Forestry Statistics 2014

A compendium of statistics about woodland, forestry and primary wood processing in the United Kingdom 0. Introduction

01. Woodland Areas and Planting 1.1. Woodland Area 1.1.1. Area of Woodland: 2014 1.1.2. Area of woodland: changes over time 1.1.3. Woodland area by ownership 1.2. Certified woodland area 1.3. Land use 1.4. National Forest Inventory 1.4.1. Woodland area by age: conifers 1.4.2. Woodland area by age: broadleaves 1.4.3. Woodland area by age: Summary 1.4.4. Woodland area by species: conifers 1.4.5. Woodland area by species: broadleaves 1.4.6. Woodland area by species: summary 1.4.7. Growing stock by species: conifers 1.4.8. Growing stock by species: broadleaves 1.5. Area of Farm Woodland 1.6. New planting and restocking 1.6.1. New planting and restocking by forest type 1.6.2. New planting and restocking by ownership 1.6.3. New planting and restocking: time series 1.7. Felling 1.7.1. Felling licences 1.7.2. Statutory Plant Health Notices
02. UK-Grown Timber 2.1. Wood production 2.1.1. Summary: wood production 2.1.2. Origin of private sector softwood removals 2.1.3. Origin of FC/NRW/FS removals 2.1.4. Softwood availability forecast 2.1.5. Hardwood availability forecast 2.2. Deliveries of UK-grown roundwood 2.2.1. Softwood deliveries 2.2.2. Hardwood deliveries 2.3. Sawmills - All Mills 2.3.1. Summary: consumption & production 2.3.2. Number of sawmills by size 2.3.3. Number of sawmills by country 2.3.4. Number of sawmills by type of wood sawn 2.3.5. Consumption of softwood by size of mill 2.3.6. Consumption of softwood by country 2.3.7. Production of sawn softwood by size of mill 2.3.8. Production of sawn softwood by country 2.4. Sawmills - Larger Mills 2.4.1. Softwood consumption and production 2.4.2. Source of softwood logs 2.4.3. Sawn softwood product markets 2.4.4. Other softwood products 2.4.5. Sawmill employment 2.5. Pulp & paper 2.5.1. Inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills 2.5.2. Production of paper 2.6. Wood-based panels 2.6.1. Inputs for wood-based panel products 2.6.2. Production of wood-based panel products 2.7. Miscellaneous products 2.7.1. Softwood round fencing manufacturers 2.7.2. Roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers 2.8. Exports 2.9. Certification 2.9.1. Volume certified 2.9.2. Chain of custody certificates 2.10. Woodfuel and pellets 2.10.1. Woodfuel supply by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers 2.10.2. Wood pellet production
03. Trade 3.1. Apparent consumption of wood in the UK 3.2. Apparent consumption of wood products in the UK 3.3. Flow of recovered paper 3.4. UK import quantities by product 3.5. UK export quantities by product 3.6. UK import values by product 3.7. UK export values by product 3.8. Origin of wood imports
04. UK Forests and Climate Change 4.1. Carbon cycle 4.2. Forest carbon stock 4.3. Carbon sequestration 4.4. Woodland Carbon Code 4.5. Public Opinion of Forestry - climate change
05. Environment 5.1. Populations of wild birds 5.2. Woodland vegetation 5.3. Public Opinion of Forestry - tree health 5.4. Woodland Fires
06. Recreation 6.1. Visits to woodland - household surveys 6.1.1. England 6.1.2. Scotland 6.1.3. Wales 6.1.4. Public Opinion of Forestry Survey - woodland visitors 6.1.5. Public Opinion of Forestry Survey - woodland visitors by age group 6.2. Visits to woodland - on-site surveys 6.2.1. Wales All Forests Survey 6.2.2. Scotland All Forests Survey 6.2.3. Quality of Experience 6.2.4. Northern Ireland Forest Service day visitors 6.3. Public access to woodland 6.3.1. Woods for People 6.3.2. Space for People
07. Employment & Businesses 7.1. Employment: Annual Business Survey (ABS) 7.2. Employment in primary wood processing 7.3. Health & safety 7.4. Establishments in the primary wood processing industries 7.5. VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses
08. Finance & Prices 8.1. Timber prices 8.2. Financial return from forestry investment 8.3. Gross value added 8.4. Government expenditure on public forests 8.5. Other government expenditure on forestry 8.6. Grant schemes
09. International Forestry 9.1. Forest cover: international comparisons 9.2. Forest area by country 9.3. Annual changes in forest area 9.4. Carbon stocks in forest biomass 9.5. Wood removals 9.6. Production of wood products 9.7. Apparent consumption of wood products 9.8. World trade in forest products
10. Glossary
11. Sources 11.1. Sources: Woodland area and planting 11.1.1. Sources: Woodland area 11.1.2. Sources: Woodland Inventories 11.1.3. Sources: New planting & restocking 11.1.4. Sources: Felling 11.2. Sources: Timber 11.2.1. Sources: Wood production 11.2.2. Sources: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey 11.2.3. Sources: Sawmill Survey 11.2.4. Sources: Pulp & paper 11.2.5. Sources: Wood-based panels 11.2.6. Sources: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers 11.2.7. Sources: Other deliveries 11.2.8. Sources: Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood 11.2.9. Sources: Estimation of hardwood removals from private sector woodlands 11.2.10. Sources: Woodfuel and pellets 11.2.11. Sources: Conversion factors 11.3. Sources: Trade 11.4. Sources: UK Forests and Climate Change 11.5. Sources: Environment 11.6. Sources: Public Opinion of Forestry 11.7. Sources: Recreation 11.8. Sources: Employment and businesses 11.9. Sources: Finance & prices 11.10. Sources: International Forestry Forestry Statistics is a compilation of statistics on woodland, forestry and primary wood processing in the UK.

Where possible, statistical information in this publication covers the whole of the United Kingdom, and is broken down to give figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Natural Resources Wales and Northern Ireland's Forest Service in providing a wide range of statistics for this publication, which has made it possible to have more comprehensive coverage of the UK. However, there are some topics for which data are currently only available for some parts of the UK, and these tables are labelled accordingly.

As a National Statistics output, this publication concentrates on topics for which the data meet National Statistics quality standards. However some topics outside the scope of National Statistics are included, to give a more rounded picture; any such tables are footnoted as "outside the scope of National Statistics". This means that they have not been subject to National Statistics quality assurance procedures, but does not necessarily imply that they are of poorer quality. The following tables and charts are not designated as National Statistics:

- Table 1.2: Woodland area in the UK (time series);
- Tables 1.6 to 1.11, figures 1.3 to 1.4b: National Forest Inventory;
- Table 1.15: Felling licences;
- Tables 1.16a and 1.16b: Statutory Plant Health Notices;
- Table 2.4a: Softwood availability forecasts;
- Table 2.4b: Hardwood availability forecasts;
- Tables 4.1 to 4.3b, Figures 4.2 to 4.4: UK forests and climate change;
- Table 5.2: Vegetation richness and condition scores;
- Figure 5.2: Tree health;
- Tables 5.3a and 5.3b: Woodland fires;
- Tables 6.1 to 6.12, Figure 6.1: Recreation;
- Table 8.2, figure 8.2: IPD UK Forestry Index;
- Tables 9.1 to 9.6, Figures 9.1 to 9.7: International forestry.

To navigate this publication, please use the links on the left-hand side of the screen to access the contents list, to use the search facility or to select a range of pages to print. The "Back to statistics" button will access the Forestry Commission's Statistics home page. Individual pages provide further links to relevant tables and sources, and you can use the "previous" and "next" links at the top of the screen to page through the publication.

The tables within each chapter (including data for charts) are available to download from the Tables for download page. In addition, longer time series (in Excel and PDF formats) are available for some tables within the Statistics by Topic pages at www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics

Selected statistics from this publication are provided in "Forestry Facts and Figures 2014", available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqf6j

The Forestry Commission also publishes a range of other Official Statistics, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics

A National Statistics publication

The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:

- meet identified user needs;
- are well explained and readily accessible;
- are produced according to sound methods, and
- are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.

Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.

For more information about National Statistics and the UK Statistics Authority visit: www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk

**Forestry Commission's statistical release practices**

The Forestry Commission aims to release statistics as soon as they are available. All of our National Statistics and other Official Statistics publications are available on our website www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics. Release dates are published on our website for the year ahead. Publications are made available at 9.30 am on the day of release.

**Forestry Commission's statistical revisions policy**

Revisions to statistics can occur when further data become available or errors are corrected. The Forestry Commission will normally revise statistics when the figures next appear in any publication. However, if the revision is significant (i.e. resulting in a major change to the published figures), a note showing the revisions will be published as soon as possible on the Forestry Commission website and distributed to all known recipients. In addition, the web versions of any current publications affected will be revised. See our full revisions policy at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf for further information.

**Quality**

Summary information on quality is available in the Sources chapter of this publication. More details are provided in quality reports for individual topics, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

**Release date:** 25 September 2014\
**Coverage:** United Kingdom\
**Geographical breakdown:** Country (where possible)\
**Issued by:** Economics and Statistics, Forestry Commission, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT\
**Enquiries:** Jackie Watson 0300 067 5238 statistics@forestry.gsi.gov.uk\
**Statistician:** Sheila Ward 0300 067 5236\
**Website:** www.forestry.gov.uk/statistics 1 Woodland Areas and Planting

Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on:

- UK woodland area;
- certified woodland area;
- areas of new planting and restocking; and
- felling.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included in addition to UK totals. International comparisons are provided in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Figures on woodland area and certified woodland area at March 2014 and on new planting and restocking for the period 2013-14 were previously published in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2013 edition", released on 12 June 2014. Some figures for the latest year previous years have been revised from those previously published. For information on these revisions, see the Woodland Areas and Planting section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all woodland area and planting tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page. Longer time series are also available for some tables. These can be accessed from our Woodland Area and Planting Statistics web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqknx.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2014 is estimated to be 3.1 million hectares. This represents 13% of the total land area in the UK, 10% in England, 15% in Wales, 18% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland.
- Of the total UK woodland area, 0.9 million hectares is owned or managed by the Forestry Commission (in England and Scotland), Natural Resources Wales (in Wales) or the Forest Service (in Northern Ireland).
- The total certified woodland area in the UK at 31 March 2014 is 1.4 million hectares, including all Forestry Commission/Natural Resources Wales/Forest Service woodland. Overall, 44% of the UK woodland area is certified.
- Thirteen thousand hectares of new woodland were created in the UK in 2013-14, mostly with broadleaved species.
- Sixteen thousand hectares of woodland were restocked in the UK in 2013-14, mostly with conifers.
- A total of 575 sites were served with a Statutory Plant Health Notice in 2013-14, requiring a total of 4.8 thousand hectares of woodland to be felled. 1.1 Woodland Area

Woodland is defined in UK forestry statistics as land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20% (25% in Northern Ireland), or having the potential to achieve this. The definition relates to land use, rather than land cover, so integral open space and felled areas that are awaiting restocking are included as woodland. Further information, including how this UK definition compares with the international definition of woodland, is provided in the Sources chapter.

Statistics on woodland area are used to inform government policy and resource allocation, to provide context to UK forestry and land management issues and are reported to international organisations. They are also used in the compilation of natural capital accounts.

Increases in woodland area result from the creation of new woodland. This can be achieved through new planting or by natural colonisation of trees on land near existing woodland. Further information is available in the section on New Planting.

Decreases in woodland area result from the conversion of woodland to other land uses. Regulatory approval is usually required before trees can be felled. Felling approval will normally require the area to be restocked, but there are some cases in which trees may be permanently removed, generally for environmental reasons. The permanent removal of trees may also be authorised under planning regulations, to enable development.

Most public sector woodland is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission (FC) in England and Scotland, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in Wales and the Forest Service (FS) in Northern Ireland. Other public sector woodland (e.g. owned by local authorities) are included with privately owned woodland as “private sector” in this release.

The Natural Resources Wales woodland areas and land areas shown in this release relate to areas previously owned or managed by Forestry Commission Wales. They exclude any areas previously owned or managed by other parts of Natural Resources Wales, such as the former Environment Agency Wales and the former Countryside Council for Wales. 1.1.1 Area of Woodland: 2014

The area of woodland in the UK at 31 March 2014 is 3.1 million hectares (Table 1.1). Of this total, 1.4 million hectares (45%) is in Scotland, 1.3 million hectares (41%) is in England, 0.3 million hectares (10%) is in Wales and 0.1 million hectares (4%) is in Northern Ireland.

Conifers account for around one half (51%) of the UK woodland area, although this proportion varies from around one quarter (26%) in England to around three quarters (74%) in Scotland.

Table 1.1 Area of woodland(^1) by ownership & forest type at 31 March 2014

| Forest type and ownership | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland(^2) | UK | |---------------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------------|----------| | | | | | | thousand hectares | | Conifers | | | | | | | FC/NRW/FS woodland | 151 | 98 | 438 | 56 | 742 | | Private sector woodland | 188 | 53 | 614 | 11 | 866 | | Total | 339 | 151 | 1 051 | 66 | 1 608 | | Broadleaves(^3) | | | | | | | FC/NRW/FS woodland | 64 | 19 | 39 | 6 | 129 | | Private sector woodland | 899 | 136 | 328 | 39 | 1 402 | | Total | 962 | 156 | 368 | 45 | 1 531 | | Total | 1 302 | 306 | 1 419 | 111 | 3 138 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory.

Notes:

1. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use.

2. Figures for Northern Ireland are obtained from the Northern Ireland Woodland Register.

3. Broadleaves include coppice and coppice with standards. 1.1.2 Area of woodland: changes over time

The 3.1 million hectares of woodland in the UK in 2014 represents 13% of the total land area. This comprises 10% in England, 15% in Wales, 18% in Scotland and 8% in Northern Ireland (Table 1.2).

Table 1.2 Woodland area in the United Kingdom

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |--------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | | Area (000 ha) | % | Area (000 ha) | % | Area (000 ha) | % | Area (000 ha) | % | Area (000 ha) | % | | 1086 | .. | ~15 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | | c1350 | .. | ~10 | .. | .. | .. | ~4 | .. | .. | .. | .. | | 17thC | .. | ~8 | .. | .. | .. | ~4 | .. | ~1.5 | .. | .. | | 1905 | 681 | 5.2 | 88 | 4.2 | 351 | 4.5 | 15 | 1.1 | 1 140 | 4.7 | | 1924 | 660 | 5.1 | 103 | 5.0 | 435 | 5.6 | 13 | 1.0 | 1 211 | 5.0 | | 1947 | 755 | 5.8 | 128 | 6.2 | 513 | 6.6 | 23 | 1.7 | 1 419 | 5.9 | | 1965 | 886 | 6.8 | 201 | 9.7 | 656 | 8.4 | 42 | 3.1 | 1 784 | 7.4 | | 1980 | 948 | 7.3 | 241 | 11.6 | 920 | 11.8 | 67 | 4.9 | 2 175 | 9.0 | | 1995-99| 1 097 | 8.4 | 287 | 13.8 | 1 281 | 16.4 | 81 | 6.0 | 2 746 | 11.3 | | 20143,4| 1 302 | 10.0 | 306 | 14.8 | 1 419 | 18.2 | 111 | 8.2 | 3 138 | 12.9 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, Nationa Forest Inventory.

Notes:

1. Percentage of the total surface area excluding inland water. The total surface areas, excluding inland water, are taken from the UK Standard Area Measurements (published by the Office for National Statistics).

2. For Northern Ireland, 17th century figure is estimate for all Ireland, 1905 figure is estimate for Ulster 1908, 1947 figure assumes no change from 1939-40 Census.

3. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use.

4. Figures for Northern Ireland are obtained from the Northern Ireland Woodland Register.

.. Denotes data not available.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.

Figure 1.1 shows woodland area by country since 1998. Figures for 1998 to 2009 for England, Wales and Scotland have been revised from those initially published, to produce results that are consistent with the National Forest Inventory and enable comparisons over time. The chart indicates that the UK woodland area has risen by around 220 thousand hectares since 1998, an increase of 7% over the period.

Figure 1.1 Area of woodland, 1998-2014 Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 1.1.3 Woodland area by ownership

The Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and the Forest Service owned or managed 28% of the total woodland area in the UK in 2014 (Table 1.3). This proportion ranged from 16% of the woodland area in England to 55% in Northern Ireland.

Table 1.3 Area of woodland(^1) in the UK by ownership, 2010-2014

| Ownership | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland(^2) | UK | |-------------------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------------|----------| | | | | | | thousand hectares | | FC/ NRW/ FS woodland | | | | | | | 2010 | 213 | 115 | 478 | 61 | 868 | | 2011 | 213 | 115 | 479 | 61 | 869 | | 2012 | 214 | 117 | 481 | 62 | 874 | | 2013 | 214 | 117 | 481 | 62 | 874 | | 2014 | 215 | 117 | 477 | 62 | 870 | | Private sector woodland | | | | | | | 2010 | 1 076 | 188 | 900 | 27 | 2 191 | | 2011 | 1 079 | 189 | 904 | 27 | 2 199 | | 2012 | 1 083 | 188 | 922 | 44 | 2 236 | | 2013 | 1 084 | 188 | 930 | 49 | 2 252 | | 2014 | 1 087 | 189 | 942 | 50 | 2 268 | | Total woodland | | | | | | | 2010 | 1 290 | 303 | 1 378 | 88 | 3 059 | | 2011 | 1 292 | 304 | 1 383 | 88 | 3 067 | | 2012 | 1 298 | 305 | 1 403 | 105 | 3 110 | | 2013 | 1 298 | 305 | 1 411 | 111 | 3 125 | | 2014 | 1 302 | 306 | 1 419 | 111 | 3 138 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory.

Notes:

1. Figures for England, Wales and Scotland are based on data obtained from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and adjusted for new planting, but at present no adjustment is made for woodland recently converted to another land use.
2. Northern Ireland figures since 2012 are obtained from the Northern Ireland Woodland Register. 1.2 Certified woodland area

Certified woodland in the UK has been independently audited against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. Forestry certification schemes are owned by international non-governmental organisations and exist to promote good forest practice. They offer product labels to demonstrate that wood or wood products come from well-managed forests.

Figures for certified woodland areas are often used as an indicator of sustainable forest management. However, it should be noted that woodland that is not certified may also be managed sustainably.

Most changes to the certified woodland area figures over time are a result of new areas being certified or certificates not being renewed upon expiry. Temporary changes can also occur if there is a time lag between expiry and renewal.

1.4 million hectares of woodland in the UK were certified in March 2014 (Table 1.4). This represented 44% of the total UK woodland area, 27% in England, 46% in Wales, 58% in Scotland and 58% in Northern Ireland.

Table 1.4 Woodland area certified(^1,2), March 2014

| Ownership | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------------------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|--------| | | thousand hectares | | | | | | FC/NRW/FS woodland(^3) | 215 | 117 | 477 | 62 | 870 | | Private sector woodland | 135 | 24 | 344 | 3 | 506 | | **Total woodland area certified** | **349** | **141** | **822** | **65** | **1 377** |

Source: Forest Stewardship Council, Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, National Forest Inventory.

Notes:

1. All certified woodland in 2014 is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme. Some of these woodlands are also certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) scheme.

2. The estimates are based on UK data published by FSC, supplemented by data from individual certificates and other sources. Where possible, figures are for the woodland area certified, rather than the land area certified.

3. All FC/NRW/FS woodland is certified. The FC/NRW/FS areas are the latest areas, as shown in Table 1.1, rather than the areas shown on the certificates.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Woodland Statistics web page.

Figure 1.2 presents certified woodland area by country since December 2001, with figures for earlier years revised for consistency with results from the National Forest Inventory. This shows an increase in certified woodland area of over 300 thousand hectares (30%) since December 2001.

**Figure 1.2 Area of certified woodland, 2001-2014** Figures showing volumes of certified timber and Chain of Custody certificates are provided in tables 2.28 and 2.29. 1.3 Land use

Not all land that is owned or managed by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service in Northern Ireland is woodland; other land uses include agricultural land and mountain areas and moorland.

The Natural Resources Wales woodland areas and land areas shown relate to areas previously owned or managed by Forestry Commission Wales. They exclude any areas previously owned or managed by other parts of Natural Resources Wales, such as the former Environment Agency Wales and the former Countryside Council for Wales.

Woodland accounted for 79% of all Forestry Commission/Natural Resources Wales/Forest Service land in the UK in 2014 (Table 1.5). This proportion was highest in Wales (94%) and lowest in Scotland (74%).

Table 1.5 Land use of the FC, NRW and FS, 2010-2014

| Year (ending 31/3) | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |-------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | | | | | | | | Woodland | | | | | | | 2010 | 213 | 115 | 478 | 61 | 868| | 2011 | 213 | 115 | 479 | 61 | 869| | 2012 | 214 | 117 | 481 | 62 | 874| | 2013 | 214 | 117 | 481 | 62 | 874| | 2014 | 215 | 117 | 477 | 62 | 870| | Other land¹ | | | | | | | 2010 | 43 | 9 | 182 | 14 | 249| | 2011 | 40 | 9 | 175 | 14 | 239| | 2012 | 38 | 7 | 170 | 14 | 229| | 2013 | 38 | 7 | 171 | 14 | 230| | 2014 | 38 | 7 | 170 | 14 | 228| | Total FC/ NRW/ FS land area | | | | | | | 2010 | 257 | 124 | 660 | 75 | 1 116| | 2011 | 254 | 124 | 654 | 75 | 1 108| | 2012 | 253 | 124 | 651 | 75 | 1 103| | 2013 | 253 | 124 | 652 | 75 | 1 104| | 2014 | 253 | 124 | 647 | 75 | 1 099|

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service.

Notes:

1. "Other land" includes agricultural land and areas of moorland and mountain. 1.4 National Forest Inventory

This section contains interim results from the National Forest Inventory (NFI). The statistics are based on field survey data combined with information from the NFI woodland map, which is a spatial representation of woodland areas in Great Britain.

The first cycle of the NFI field survey began in 2010 and will be completed in 2015. Therefore full field survey results from the NFI are not yet available. The figures presented in this chapter are interim estimates at 31 March 2012, published in the NFI "50-year forecast of softwood timber availability" and "50-year forecast of hardwood timber availability" reports, released in April 2014. Both reports are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

The figures presented in Tables 1.6 to 1.9 (and Figures 1.3, 1.4a and 1.4b) relate to stocked areas. These differ from the woodland areas presented in earlier tables, as stocked areas exclude felled areas and (for non-FC land) areas of integral open space.

The figures on growing stock presented in Tables 1.10 and 1.11 form the basis for the Forestry Commission's availability forecasts (see Tables 2.4a and 2.4b).

Further information on the National Forest Inventory is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory 1.4.1 Woodland area by age: conifers

Table 1.6 presents the area of conifers, broken down by age class, ownership and country.

Sixty-one percent of the coniferous woodland area in Great Britain was occupied by stands of 40 years old or younger (Table 1.6). A further 9% of stands were aged over 60 years.

Table 1.6 Stocked woodland area in GB by ownership and age class: Conifers

| Age class (years) | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |------------------|---------|-------|----------|-----| | | thousand hectares | | **FC** | | | | | | 0-20 | 33 | 24 | 76 | 134 | | 21-40 | 38 | 25 | 145 | 208 | | 41-60 | 39 | 25 | 111 | 176 | | 61-80 | 12 | 7 | 25 | 44 | | 81-100 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 11 | | 100+ | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | | **All age classes** | **128** | **82** | **367** | **576** | | **Private sector** | | | | | | 0-20 | 17 | 8 | 126 | 151 | | 21-40 | 54 | 22 | 231 | 306 | | 41-60 | 83 | 15 | 116 | 214 | | 61-80 | 19 | 1 | 18 | 38 | | 81-100 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | | 100+ | 3 | 1 | 9 | 12 | | **All age classes** | **179** | **47** | **505** | **732** | | **Total** | | | | | | 0-20 | 51 | 32 | 202 | 285 | | 21-40 | 92 | 46 | 376 | 514 | | 41-60 | 123 | 39 | 227 | 389 | | 61-80 | 31 | 8 | 43 | 82 | | 81-100 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 22 | | 100+ | 3 | 1 | 12 | 16 | | **All age classes** | **307** | **129** | **872** | **1 308** |

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.

2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 1.4.2 Woodland area by age: broadleaves

Table 1.7 presents the area of broadleaves, broken down by age class, ownership and country.

Around one half (53%) of the broadleaved area was occupied by stands of 40 years old or younger (Table 1.7). More than one quarter (28%) of stands were aged over 60 years.

Table 1.7 Stocked woodland area in GB by ownership and age class: Broadleaves

| Age class (years) | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |------------------|---------|-------|----------|-----| | | thousand hectares | | **FC** | | | | | | 0-20 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 25 | | 21-40 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 13 | | 41-60 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 19 | | 61-80 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 19 | | 81-100 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | | 100+ | 10 | 3 | 5 | 18 | | **All age classes** | **54** | **16** | **32** | **102** | | **Private sector** | | | | | | 0-20 | 217 | 30 | 84 | 332 | | 21-40 | 227 | 33 | 84 | 344 | | 41-60 | 145 | 22 | 58 | 225 | | 61-80 | 117 | 15 | 22 | 154 | | 81-100 | 92 | 11 | 9 | 112 | | 100+ | 51 | 10 | 7 | 67 | | **All age classes** | **849** | **121** | **265** | **1 235** | | **Total** | | | | | | 0-20 | 225 | 37 | 95 | 357 | | 21-40 | 232 | 36 | 90 | 357 | | 41-60 | 157 | 24 | 63 | 244 | | 61-80 | 130 | 17 | 26 | 173 | | 81-100 | 97 | 12 | 11 | 119 | | 100+ | 61 | 12 | 12 | 85 | | **All age classes** | **902** | **137** | **297** | **1 337** |

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014), (supporting data).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.

2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 1.4.3 Woodland area by age: Summary

Figure 1.3 presents the age profile of woodland in Great Britain for conifers and for broadleaves. It shows that broadleaves are more evenly distributed across the age classes than conifers.

**Figure 1.3 Age profile of woodland in GB**

![Age profile of woodland in GB](image)

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.

2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 1.4.4 Woodland area by species: conifers

Table 1.8 presents the area of conifers, broken down by principal species, ownership and country.

Sitka spruce accounts for around one half (51%) of the conifer area in Great Britain (Table 1.8), followed by Scots pine (17%) and Larches (10%). Sitka spruce is less dominant in England, accounting for just one quarter (26%) of the conifer area there.

Table 1.8 Stocked woodland area in GB by ownership and principal species: Conifers

| Principal species | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-------------------|---------|-------|----------|----| | | thousand hectares | | **FC** | | | | | | Sitka spruce | 49 | 50 | 225 | 323| | Scots pine | 17 | 2 | 45 | 64 | | Corsican pine | 27 | 2 | 2 | 30 | | Norway spruce | 7 | 5 | 11 | 23 | | Larches | 10 | 12 | 26 | 48 | | Douglas fir | 10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | | Lodgepole pine | 4 | 3 | 49 | 56 | | Other conifers | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 | | **All conifers** | 128 | 82 | 367 | 576| | **Private sector**| | | | | | Sitka spruce | 32 | 27 | 282 | 341| | Scots pine | 45 | 1 | 109 | 154| | Corsican pine | 14 | 0 | 1 | 15 | | Norway spruce | 21 | 3 | 15 | 38 | | Larches | 30 | 8 | 39 | 78 | | Douglas fir | 15 | 3 | 7 | 25 | | Lodgepole pine | 3 | 1 | 39 | 44 | | Other conifers | 19 | 2 | 8 | 29 | | **All conifers** | 179 | 47 | 505 | 732| | **Total** | | | | | | Sitka spruce | 80 | 77 | 507 | 665| | Scots pine | 61 | 3 | 154 | 218| | Corsican pine | 40 | 2 | 3 | 46 | | Norway spruce | 27 | 8 | 25 | 61 | | Larches | 40 | 20 | 66 | 126| | Douglas fir | 25 | 9 | 12 | 46 | | Lodgepole pine | 8 | 4 | 88 | 100| | Other conifers | 24 | 5 | 11 | 40 | | **All conifers** | 307 | 129 | 872 | 1308|

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.
2. Areas at 31 March 2012. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 1.4.5 Woodland area by species: broadleaves

Table 1.9 presents the area of broadleaves, broken down by principal species, ownership and country.

The most commonly occurring broadleaved species in Great Britain are Birch (accounting for 18% of broadleaf woodland), Oak (16%) and Ash (12%) (Table 1.9). Birch is more dominant in Scotland, accounting for 43% of the broadleaf area there.

Table 1.9 Stocked woodland area in GB by ownership and principal species: Broadleaves

| Principal species | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-------------------|---------|-------|----------|----| | | thousand hectares | | **FC** | | | | | | Oak | 16 | 3 | 3 | 21 | | Beech | 13 | 2 | 1 | 15 | | Sycamore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | | Ash | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | | Birch | 6 | 2 | 11 | 19 | | Sweet chestnut | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Hazel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | | Hawthorn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Alder | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | Willow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Other broadleaves | 14 | 9 | 15 | 38 | | **All broadleaves** | **54** | **16** | **32** | **102** | | **Private sector** | | | | | | Oak | 151 | 23 | 23 | 198| | Beech | 59 | 5 | 15 | 78 | | Sycamore | 74 | 9 | 21 | 105| | Ash | 120 | 18 | 15 | 153| | Birch | 90 | 11 | 116 | 217| | Sweet chestnut | 28 | 0 | 0 | 28 | | Hazel | 64 | 14 | 8 | 86 | | Hawthorn | 57 | 8 | 8 | 73 | | Alder | 30 | 10 | 16 | 56 | | Willow | 41 | 11 | 13 | 65 | | Other broadleaves | 133 | 12 | 29 | 174| | **All broadleaves** | **849** | **121** | **265** | **1 235** | | **Total** | | | | | | Oak | 167 | 26 | 26 | 219| | Beech | 72 | 6 | 15 | 94 | | Sycamore | 75 | 9 | 22 | 106| | Ash | 123 | 19 | 16 | 157| | Birch | 96 | 12 | 128 | 236| | Sweet chestnut | 28 | 0 | 0 | 29 | | Hazel | 65 | 14 | 8 | 87 | | Hawthorn | 57 | 8 | 8 | 73 | | | 31 | 10 | 17 | 58 | |----------------|----|----|----|----| | Alder | 41 | 11 | 13 | 65 | | Willow | 146| 21 | 44 | 212| | Other broadleaves | 902| 137| 297| 1337|

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.
2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 1.4.6 Woodland area by species: summary

Figures 1.4a and 1.4b show that, whilst the conifer area is dominated by a small number of species (Sitka spruce and Scots pine together account for around two thirds of the conifer area), broadleaves are more varied.

**Figure 1.4a Principal tree species in GB by stocked area: Conifers**

![Pie chart showing conifer species distribution](image)

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.
2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

**Figure 1.4b Principal tree species in GB by stocked area: Broadleaves**

![Pie chart showing broadleaf species distribution](image)

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Stocked area only: excludes felled areas and (for private sector land) open space.
2. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 1.4.7 Growing stock by species: conifers

Growing stock is the volume of timber in living trees. It is also often referred to as the standing volume.

Table 1.10 presents the volume of coniferous growing stock, broken down by principal species, ownership and country.

The total volume of coniferous growing stock in Great Britain was 355 million m$^3$ overbark standing (Table 1.10).

Sitka spruce accounts for around one half (51%) of the conifer growing stock, followed by Scots pine (15%) and Larches (10%). This largely reflects the distribution of species by area (see Table 1.8).

Table 1.10 Growing stock in GB by ownership and principal species: Conifers

| Principal species | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-------------------|---------|-------|----------|----------| | | million cubic metres overbark standing | | **FC** | | | | | | Sitka spruce | 8.9 | 11.1 | 52.1 | 72.0 | | Scots pine | 4.0 | 0.5 | 8.8 | 13.3 | | Corsican pine | 5.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 6.4 | | Norway spruce | 1.7 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 6.7 | | Larches | 1.7 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 9.2 | | Douglas fir | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 5.4 | | Lodgepole pine | 0.8 | 0.6 | 8.2 | 9.6 | | Other conifers | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 3.6 | | **All conifers** | **26.8**| **19.4**| **80.2**| **126.4**| | **Private sector**| | | | | | Sitka spruce | 11.4 | 9.5 | 88.0 | 108.9 | | Scots pine | 14.7 | 0.3 | 24.5 | 39.4 | | Corsican pine | 4.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 5.3 | | Norway spruce | 7.1 | 1.3 | 5.9 | 14.4 | | Larches | 10.7 | 3.3 | 12.3 | 26.3 | | Douglas fir | 6.4 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 11.5 | | Lodgepole pine | 1.0 | 0.3 | 7.4 | 8.7 | | Other conifers | 7.6 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 11.7 | | **All conifers** | **63.7**| **17.9**| **146.7**| **228.4**| | **Total** | | | | | | Sitka spruce | 20.3 | 20.6 | 140.0 | 180.9 | | Scots pine | 18.6 | 0.8 | 33.3 | 52.7 | | Corsican pine | 10.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 11.7 | | Norway spruce | 8.8 | 2.8 | 9.4 | 21.1 | | Larches | 12.4 | 6.0 | 17.1 | 35.6 | | Douglas fir | 9.1 | 2.9 | 4.9 | 16.9 | | Lodgepole pine | 1.8 | 0.9 | 15.5 | 18.3 | | Other conifers | 9.1 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 15.4 | | **All conifers** | **90.5**| **37.4**| **226.9**| **354.7**|

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014). Notes:

1. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 1.4.8 Growing stock by species: broadleaves

Table 1.11 presents the volume of broadleaved growing stock, broken down by principal species, ownership and country.

The total volume of broadleaved growing stock in Great Britain is 245 million m$^3$ overbark standing (Table 1.11).

Oak (28%), Ash (16%) and Beech (12%) accounted for the majority of the broadleaved volume. To some extent, this reflects the distribution of species by area (see Table 1.9).

Table 1.11 Growing stock in GB by ownership and principal species: Broadleaves

| Principal species | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-------------------|---------|-------|----------|----------| | | million cubic metres overbark standing | | **FC** | | | | | | Oak | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 4.4 | | Beech | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 3.4 | | Sycamore | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | | Ash | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | | Birch | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 2.3 | | Sweet chestnut | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | | Hazel | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | | Hawthorn | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Alder | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | | Willow | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Other broadleaves | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 3.3 | | **All broadleaves** | **8.7** | **1.9** | **3.9** | **14.5** | | **Private sector** | | | | | | Oak | 51.7 | 7.7 | 5.6 | 65.0 | | Beech | 19.8 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 26.6 | | Sycamore | 16.2 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 23.4 | | Ash | 30.1 | 6.9 | 2.8 | 39.8 | | Birch | 11.3 | 1.2 | 8.5 | 20.9 | | Sweet chestnut | 7.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7.9 | | Hazel | 5.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 6.4 | | Hawthorn | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 3.4 | | Alder | 6.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 10.8 | | Willow | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 6.5 | | Other broadleaves | 16.0 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 19.6 | | **All broadleaves** | **172.3** | **25.4** | **32.9** | **230.6** | | **Total** | | | | | | Oak | 55.0 | 8.1 | 6.3 | 69.4 | | Beech | 22.6 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 29.9 | | Sycamore | 16.4 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 23.6 | | Ash | 30.5 | 7.0 | 2.8 | 40.3 | | Birch | 11.8 | 1.3 | 10.1 | 23.2 | | Sweet chestnut | 7.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 8.0 | | Tree Type | Area (ha) | Height (m) | Diameter (cm) | Volume (m³) | |-------------------|-----------|------------|---------------|-------------| | Hazel | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 6.5 | | Hawthorn | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 3.4 | | Alder | 6.9 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 11.0 | | Willow | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 6.5 | | Other broadleaves | 17.2 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 22.9 | | **All broadleaves** | **181.0** | **27.3** | **36.8** | **245.1** |

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014).

Notes:

1. Areas at 31 March 2012.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 1.5 Area of Farm Woodland

Agricultural Censuses run by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the devolved administrations collect annual information on the land-use of farms. Table 1.12 below shows the area of woodland on farms.

The area of farm woodland in the UK has increased from 563 thousand hectares in 2004 to 865 thousand hectares in 2013 (Table 1.12). Around one half (54%) of all farm woodland is in Scotland, with a further 38% in England, 7% in Wales and the remaining 1% in Northern Ireland.

Table 1.12 Area of farm woodland, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|-----| | 2004 | 274.1 | 41.7 | 239.0 | 8.2 | 563.0 | | 2005 | 291.7 | 44.9 | 238.0 | 8.6 | 583.2 | | 2006 | 296.0 | 51.3 | 249.3 | 9.6 | 606.2 | | 2007 | 305.4 | 67.9 | 279.9 | 9.9 | 663.1 | | 2008 | 318.8 | 59.2 | 317.3 | 9.9 | 705.2 | | 2009 | 303.7 | 60.8 | 350.8 | 10.3 | 725.7 | | 2010 | 295.3 | 69.1 | 399.8 | 10.2 | 774.4 | | 2011 | 304.9 | 44.2 | 426.1 | 10.8 | 785.9 | | 2012 | 308.4 | 62.6 | 445.4 | 11.0 | 827.5 | | 2013 | 324.9 | 63.4 | 466.8 | 10.3 | 865.4 |

Source: June Agricultural Census - Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive.

Figure 1.5 Area of farm woodland, 1981-2013

Source: June Agricultural Census - Defra, The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive. 1.6 New planting and restocking

New planting

New planting is the creation of new areas of woodland by planting trees on land that was not previously woodland. The statistics presented here also include new woodland that is created by natural colonisation of trees on land near existing woodland. Statistics on new planting are used to inform government policy and resource allocation, and are used in producing annual estimates of woodland area.

There are a number of factors that can affect the level of new planting in the UK. These include:

- choices by landowners reflecting their own motivation and needs;
- the costs and availability of land for conversion to woodland;
- the availability of grants for new planting, the level of grant payments available and the awareness of grants among potential recipients;
- the tax benefits available from owning woodland;
- expected future markets for wood products such as timber and woodfuel;
- income from payments for ecosystem services, particularly carbon storage;
- national and local initiatives, for example on biodiversity, green infrastructure and water management.

Restocking

Restocking is the replanting of existing areas of woodland that have been felled. The statistics presented here also include felled areas that have been restocked by natural regeneration.

As restocking takes place on woodland that has been previously harvested and it is a condition of most felling licences that the area is restocked, restocking rates are mainly driven by harvesting levels (with a time lag, usually of around 2 years, between harvesting and restocking). Figures for timber harvesting (wood production) are available in the UK-Grown Timber chapter.

Economic factors, including grant rates, may have some effect on the species choice at restocking. In addition, the precise timing of restocking may be affected by weather conditions.

Changes to grant support for restocking of conifers has changed with the introduction of Rural Development Contracts in Scotland in 2008. As a result, grant aid is no longer available for restocking with Sitka spruce in many cases. No estimates have been included for restocking of Sitka spruce in Scotland that is no longer supported by grants. It is therefore likely that conifer restocking in Scotland in recent years is under-reported in this release and other statistics. 1.6.1 New planting and restocking by forest type

The total area of new planting and restocking in the UK was around 29 thousand hectares in 2013-14 (Table 1.13). Restocking accounted for over one half (55%) of this total. Broadleaved species accounted for around four fifths (83%) of the new planting area but just one quarter (27%) of the restocking area in 2013-14.

Table 1.13 New planting & restocking by forest type

| Year (ending 31/3) | New planting | Restocking | Total | |--------------------|--------------|------------|-------| | | Conifers | Broadleaves| Total | | | thousand hectares | thousand hectares | thousand hectares | | England | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 5.1 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 4.2 | 6.5 | | 2011-12 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 6.2 | | 2012-13 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 6.6 | | 2013-14 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 5.2 | 7.8 | | Wales | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 2.4 | | 2011-12 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 2.7 | | 2012-13 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 2.9 | | 2013-14 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | | Scotland | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 9.5 | 8.6 | 3.7 | 12.3 | | 2010-11 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 1.3 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 12.9 | | 2011-12 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 5.7 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 14.7 | | 2012-13 | 1.7 | 5.3 | 7.0 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 13.1 | | 2013-14 | 2.0 | 6.3 | 8.3 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 7.7 | 16.2 | | Northern Ireland | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.9 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | | 2011-12 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.3 | | 2012-13 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | | 2013-14 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.5 | | UK | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.5 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 11.5 | 3.6 | 15.1 | 12.0 | 8.5 | 20.5 | | 2010-11 | 1.8 | 7.3 | 9.1 | 10.3 | 3.8 | 14.0 | 12.1 | 11.0 | 23.1 | | 2011-12 | 3.5 | 9.2 | 12.7 | 9.0 | 3.3 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 25.0 | | 2012-13 | 1.9 | 8.9 | 10.8 | 9.7 | 3.4 | 13.1 | 11.6 | 12.3 | 23.9 | | 2013-14 | 2.2 | 10.7 | 12.9 | 11.6 | 4.2 | 15.8 | 13.8 | 14.9 | 28.7 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes.

Notes:

1. Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year. Estimate of areas planted without grant aid are also included (where possible), although non grant aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years.

2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced or delayed.

3. Includes natural colonisation and natural regeneration.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Woodland Statistics web page. 1.6.2 New planting and restocking by ownership

In 2013-14 most new planting (95%) took place on private sector land (Table 1.14). In contrast, more than two-thirds of restocking (69%) took place on FC/NRW/FS land.

Table 1.14 New planting & restocking by ownership

| Year (ending 31/3) | New Planting | Restocking | Total | |-------------------|--------------|------------|-------| | | FC/NRW/FS | Private sector | Total | FC/NRW/FS | Private sector | Total | | England | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 5.1 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6.5 | | 2011-12 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 4.1 | 6.2 | | 2012-13 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 6.6 | | 2013-14 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 5.8 | 7.8 | | Wales | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 2.4 | | 2011-12 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.7 | | 2012-13 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.9 | | 2013-14 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3.2 | | Scotland | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 9.5 | 4.3 | 7.9 | 12.3 | | 2010-11 | 0.8 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 12.9 | | 2011-12 | 1.3 | 7.7 | 9.0 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 8.7 | 14.7 | | 2012-13 | 0.8 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 7.5 | 13.1 | | 2013-14 | 0.6 | 7.7 | 8.3 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 7.9 | 6.8 | 9.4 | 16.2 | | Northern Ireland | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | | 2010-11 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 | | 2011-12 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.3 | | 2012-13 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | | 2013-14 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.5 | | UK | | | | | | | | 2009-10 | 0.7 | 4.7 | 5.4 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 15.1 | 7.9 | 12.7 | 20.5 | | 2010-11 | 0.8 | 8.3 | 9.1 | 10.0 | 4.1 | 14.0 | 10.8 | 12.3 | 23.1 | | 2011-12 | 1.3 | 11.4 | 12.7 | 8.9 | 3.3 | 12.3 | 10.3 | 14.7 | 25.0 | | 2012-13 | 0.9 | 9.9 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 3.8 | 13.1 | 10.2 | 13.8 | 23.9 | | 2013-14 | 0.6 | 12.3 | 12.9 | 10.9 | 4.9 | 15.8 | 11.5 | 17.2 | 28.7 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes.

Notes:

1. Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year. Estimate of areas planted without grant aid are also included (where possible), although non grant aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years.

2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced or delayed.

3. Includes natural colonisation and natural regeneration.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Woodland Statistics web page. 1.6.3 New planting and restocking: time series

Figure 1.6 shows areas of new planting by country since the year ending March 1976. UK new planting rates have fallen from the late 1980’s, decreasing by 82% between 1988-89 and 2009-10. This followed changes to the tax benefits from owning forestry in the UK, introduced in the 1988 Finance Act (www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/39/contents). However, the area of new planting in the UK has more than doubled since 2009-10, largely driven by increases in Scotland following the introduction of Rural Development Contracts. For further information, see the New Planting and Restocking section of the Sources chapter.

Figure 1.6 New planting in the UK, 1976-2014

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes.

Notes:

1. Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year. Estimate of areas planted without grant aid are also included (where possible), although non grant aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years.
2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced or delayed.
3. Includes natural colonisation.

Figure 1.7 shows areas of restocking by country since the year ending March 1976. It indicates an increase in restocking rates over most of the period. Over the same period, there has been a general increase in UK wood production (see UK-Grown Timber chapter).

The area of restocking fell by around one third between the peak of 19 thousand hectares in 2006-07 and 2011-12. There has since been some recovery, with the area of restocking increasing by 29% between 2011-12 and 2013-14.

The decline in restocking levels from 2006-07 follows changes to grant support for restocking in Scotland, that may have resulted in some non-grant aided Sitka spruce restocking being excluded from the estimates. Reliable estimates of the amount of Sitka spruce restocking undertaken without grant aid in Scotland are not available. However, results from the Forestry Commission’s Nursery Survey (an annual survey of forest nurseries in Great Britain) indicate that, despite a dip in the 2009/10 planting year, sales of Sitka spruce plants to Scotland have been relatively stable in recent years. For further information, see the New Planting and Restocking section of the Sources chapter.

Figure 1.7 Restocking in the UK, 1976-2014 Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, grant schemes.

Notes:

1. Private sector figures are based on areas for which grants were paid during the year. Estimate of areas planted without grant aid are also included (where possible), although non grant aided planting may be under-represented in the figures. Figures for grant-aided planting under Rural Development Contracts in Scotland relate to calendar years.

2. The planting season lies both sides of 31 March, and the weather can cause planting to be advanced or delayed.

3. Includes natural regeneration. 1.7 Felling

Felling

Approval for the felling (cutting down) of trees in the UK is granted through felling licences issued by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service.

Felling licences may be conditional (where felling approval is granted subject to restocking) or unconditional (where tree felling is approved without the requirement to replant). Unconditional licences are routinely issued for silvicultural thinning operations and in these cases no woodland loss takes place. However, an unconditional felling licence may be issued if there are overriding environmental considerations, for example to enable the restoration of important habitats.

The permanent removal of trees might also be authorised through a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN). A SPHN requires the felling of infected trees, and is issued by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service to prevent the spread of pests and diseases and may include woodland owned or managed by these organisations. They are currently being issued to attempt to halt the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, first found in Japanese larch in the UK in 2009. There is no legal requirement for woodland to be restocked after felling under a Statutory Plant Health Notice.

The removal of trees may also be authorised under planning regulations, to enable development (including for windfarms). In this case, a felling licence is not required.

Further information on felling and Statutory Plant Health Notices is provided in the Sources chapter.

Woodland loss

Information on unconditional felling licences that do not relate to thinning may be seen as an indication of the level of woodland loss on land that is not owned or managed by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service. However, the data relates only to felling licences issued, so does not provide information on whether the felling actually took place (or the timing of the felling). In addition, felling licences do not cover woodland loss that is authorised under planning regulations.

National Forest Inventory Woodland Area Statistics for Great Britain (Spring 2010) has reported:

- 0.5 thousand hectares of observed permanent woodland loss identified to date from work comparing the aerial photography associated with the National Inventory of Woodland and Trees (NIWT) woodland map to the NFI woodland map;
- Forestry Commission administrative based estimates from each country that sum to around 20-30 thousand hectares of woodland removal for open habitat creation or for windfarm developments across Great Britain over the past decade.

More recently, an assessment of woodland loss in Scotland has estimated that 19 thousand hectares of woodland were removed in Scotland in the 10 year period to March 2011, of which just over one half (54%) was on private sector land. 1.7.1 Felling licences

Table 1.15 shows the area covered by unconditional felling licences issued by the Forestry Commission in England and Scotland over the last six years. The figures do not include unconditional felling licences issued to permit thinning of woodlands. The table covers woodland in England and Scotland that is not owned or managed by the Forestry Commission only; it does not cover felling that is exempt from felling licence approval (such as authorisations for felling under planning regulations, felling required under a Statutory Plant Health Notice or felling that is approved on condition that the area is restocked).

A total of 0.4 thousand hectares of woodland in England and 0.1 thousand hectares of woodland in Scotland was covered by unconditional felling licences (with no requirement to restock) in the year to March 2014.

Table 1.15 Areas of Private sector woodland covered by unconditional felling licences(^1), 2007-08 to 2013-14

| Year | England | Scotland | |----------|---------|----------| | 2007-08 | 0.4 | 0.1 | | 2008-09 | 0.4 | 0.2 | | 2009-10 | 0.5 | 0.2 | | 2010-11 | 0.5 | 0.1 | | 2011-12 | 0.6 | 0.1 | | 2012-13 | 0.3 | 0.2 | | 2013-14 | 0.4 | 0.1 |

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes:

1. Felling licences issued in the period. Excludes areas exempt from felling licence approval or under Forestry Commission grant, and licences issued for thinning.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 1.7.2 Statutory Plant Health Notices

Statutory Plant Health Notices, requiring the felling of infected trees, are issued by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. They are currently being issued to attempt to halt the spread of Phytophthora ramorum, first found in Japanese larch in the UK in 2009. Unlike the majority of felling licences, which are granted on condition that the area to be felled is restocked, there is no legal requirement for woodland to be restocked after felling under a Statutory Plant Health Notice.

Table 1.16a shows the number of sites where a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served in the UK over the last 4 years and Table 1.16b shows the area required to be felled under these Notices. The tables cover all woodland, including sites owned or managed by the Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales or the Forest Service.

A total of 575 sites were served with Statutory Plant Health Notices between April 2013 and March 2014.

Table 1.16a Number of sites where a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served(^1), 2010-11 to 2013-14

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|-----| | 2010-11 | 114 | 24 | 1 | 10 | 149 | | 2011-12 | 131 | 129 | 14 | 16 | 290 | | 2012-13 | 166 | 90 | 123 | 15 | 394 | | 2013-14 | 223 | 253 | 76 | 23 | 575 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service

Note:

1. The number of sites where infection by Phytophthora ramorum has been confirmed, or where there is sufficient suspicion of infection, and a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served on the landowner.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Areas requiring felling under Statutory Plant Health Notices totalled 4.8 thousand hectares in 2013-14, more than double the 2012-13 total of 2.3 thousand hectares. Around two thirds of the area to be felled in 2013-14 was in Wales (67%), 16% was in England, 10% was in Northern Ireland and the remaining 6% was in Scotland.

Table 1.16b Felling areas under Statutory Plant Health Notices(^1), 2010-11 to 2013-14

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|-----| | 2010-11 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.3 | | 2011-12 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | | 2012-13 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 2.3 | | 2013-14 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 4.8 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service

Note:

1. The area that is required to be felled within the Statutory Plant Health Notice. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.

Estimates of the volume of softwood removed in 2013 under a movement license, as required by a Statutory Plant Health Notice, can be found in the Wood Production Summary section of Chapter 2 by following the link below. Introduction

This chapter covers the production of timber from woodland and the primary processing of harvested wood to give basic wood products, for the calendar year 2013.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, in addition to UK totals, where possible. International comparisons of timber production are available in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Timber originating from conifers is known as softwood and that from broadleaves is known as hardwood. Please refer to the Glossary for a definition of other terms used in this chapter.

Figures for 2013 were previously published in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 Provisional Figures", released on 15 May 2014. Some figures for the latest year and previous years have been revised from those previously published. For further details on revisions, see the Timber section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all timber tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page. Longer time series are also available for some tables. These can be accessed from our Timber Statistics web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aql5b.

Key findings

The main findings for 2013 are (with percentage changes from 2012):

Removals (harvesting) of UK roundwood:

- 11.0 million green tonnes of softwood (+8%);
- 0.5 million green tonnes of hardwood (-1%).

Deliveries of UK roundwood to wood processors and others:

- Total: 11.1 million green tonnes of roundwood (softwood and hardwood) (+7%), of which:
  - Sawmills: 6.5 million green tonnes (+5%);
  - Wood-based panels: 1.3 million green tonnes (-1%);
  - Integrated pulp and paper mills: 0.5 million green tonnes (+1%);
  - Other uses, including round fencing, woodfuel, shavings and exports of roundwood: 2.9 million green tonnes (+16%).

Production of wood products in the UK included:

- 3.6 million cubic metres of sawnwood (+5%);
- 3.0 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (+1%);
- 4.6 million tonnes of paper and paperboard (+2%). 2.1 Wood production

Wood production (also referred to as removals) refers to the harvesting of roundwood (trunk and branch wood) from coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) trees. Figures are generally expressed here in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled).

Removals should not be confused with deliveries, which are the quantities of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports). Deliveries statistics are presented in Tables 2.5 and 2.6. A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter.

The figures on removals of UK roundwood are used to monitor trends in the UK forest sector. The data is also used alongside figures for standing volume (the volume of standing trees) and increment (the growth rate of standing trees) to compile natural capital accounts for inclusion in the UK Environmental Accounts.

The data are derived from a number of sources:

- FC/NRW/FS figures are obtained from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service administrative systems;
- Private sector softwood figures are obtained from the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey;
- Total hardwood figures are estimated from hardwood deliveries figures, which are compiled from surveys of the UK-grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 2.1.1 Summary: wood production

It is estimated that a total of 11.5 million green tonnes of roundwood was removed from UK woodlands in 2013. This represented an 8% increase from the 2012 figure of 10.6 million green tonnes.

Softwood accounted for most (95%) removals from UK woodland and totalled 10.9 million green tonnes in 2013 (Table 2.1). This represented an 8% increase on the previous year’s figure. Hardwood removals totalled 0.5 million green tonnes in 2013, a 1% decrease from 2012.

FC/NRW/FS woodlands accounted for 46% of softwood production but only 15% of hardwood production.

Table 2.1 Wood production, 2004-2013

| Year | Softwood | | | Hardwood | |------|----------|---|---|----------| | | FC/ NRW/ FS woodland | Private sector woodland | Total softwood | FC/ NRW/ FS woodland | Private sector woodland | Total hardwood | | 2004 | 4 894 | 3 246 | 8 141 | 113 | 399 | 513 | | 2005 | 4 579 | 3 499 | 8 077 | 101 | 492 | 593 | | 2006 | 4 582 | 3 661 | 8 243 | 45 | 392 | 438 | | 2007 | 4 653 | 4 083 | 8 736 | 40 | 400 | 440 | | 2008 | 4 415 | 3 823 | 8 238 | 43 | 388 | 431 | | 2009 | 5 126 | 3 266 | 8 392 | 87 | 449 | 536 | | 2010 | 4 625 | 4 633 | 9 258 | 70 | 465 | 535 | | 2011 | 4 870 | 5 186 | 10 056 | 75 | 465 | 541 | | 2012 | 4 836 | 5 259 | 10 095 | 55 | 478 | 532 | | 2013 | 5 084 | 5 856 | 10 940 | 79 | 451 | 529 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. FC: Forestry Commission (England, Scotland, and until March 2013, Wales), NRW: Natural Resources Wales (from April 2013), FS: Forest Service (Northern Ireland).
2. Private sector: removals from all other woodland (including some publicly owned woodland).
3. Most hardwood production in the UK comes from private sector woodland; the figures are estimates based on reported deliveries to wood processing industries and others.

Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates by country (England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland) are available from the Timber Statistics web page.

Within the 11.5 million green tonnes of softwood removed from UK woodlands in 2013, approximately 350 thousand green tonnes were removed under a movement license, as required by a Statutory Plant Health Notice. This comprised around 250 thousand green tonnes from FC/NRW/FS woodland and around 100 thousand green tonnes from private sector woodland.

Softwood removals under a movement license are expected to consist mainly of Japanese larch that is suspected of being infected by Phytophthora ramorum. However a small volume of species other than larch is likely to be included in these figures.

While movement licenses have been issued for several years, 2013 is the first year for which the associated removals data has been collected and published. Statistics on the number of sites where a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served in the UK over the last 4 years, and the area required to be felled under these Notices, can be found in the Statutory Plant Health Notices section of Chapter 1 by following the link below. 2.1.2 Origin of private sector softwood removals

It is estimated that 72% of all softwood removals from private sector woodlands were harvested in Scotland, 16% in England, 12% in Wales and the remainder in Northern Ireland in 2013 (Table 2.2).

Over the past ten years, Wales and England have shown the biggest percentage increase, with private sector removals in 2013 more than double the levels in 2004. Removals from Scotland have increased by 70% over the same period, whilst removals from Northern Ireland have fallen.

Table 2.2 Private sector softwood removals by country, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|----| | | thousand green tonnes | | | | | | 2004 | 446 | 289 | 2 481 | 30 | 3 246 | | 2005 | 534 | 266 | 2 659 | 40 | 3 499 | | 2006 | 586 | 326 | 2 729 | 21 | 3 661 | | 2007 | 612 | 382 | 3 059 | 29 | 4 083 | | 2008 | 638 | 333 | 2 827 | 25 | 3 823 | | 2009 | 533 | 321 | 2 388 | 24 | 3 266 | | 2010 | 668 | 429 | 3 479 | 57 | 4 633 | | 2011 | 738 | 501 | 3 894 | 53 | 5 186 | | 2012 | 847 | 611 | 3 761 | 40 | 5 259 | | 2013 | 927 | 695 | 4 211 | 23 | 5 856 |

Source: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey

Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.1.3 Origin of FC/ NRW/ FS removals

Information on removals from Forestry Commission (FC), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Forest Service (FS) woodlands is extracted from administrative systems.

A total of 5.1 million green tonnes of softwood was removed from FC/NRW/FS woodlands in 2013, a 5% increase from the 2012 figure (Table 2.3). Over one half (55%) of FC/NRW/FS softwood removals in 2013 occurred in Scotland, 23% in England, 14% in Wales and 8% in Northern Ireland.

Table 2.3 FC/ NRW/ FS softwood removals by country, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | | thousand green tonnes | | | | | | 2004 | 1 204 | 783 | 2 527 | 380 | 4 894 | | 2005 | 1 165 | 673 | 2 388 | 353 | 4 579 | | 2006 | 1 152 | 612 | 2 454 | 364 | 4 582 | | 2007 | 1 211 | 584 | 2 496 | 363 | 4 653 | | 2008 | 1 100 | 556 | 2 362 | 398 | 4 415 | | 2009 | 1 213 | 717 | 2 773 | 423 | 5 126 | | 2010 | 1 142 | 644 | 2 434 | 405 | 4 625 | | 2011 | 1 185 | 689 | 2 566 | 430 | 4 870 | | 2012 | 1 154 | 663 | 2 627 | 392 | 4 836 | | 2013 | 1 188 | 693 | 2 819 | 384 | 5 084 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service.

Data: Longer time series of the above table, including estimates for hardwood removals and for removals from private sector woodlands are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.1.4 Softwood availability forecast

The National Forest Inventory "50-year forecast of softwood availability" and "50-year forecast of hardwood availability" were published in April 2014. They are forecasts of potential availability rather than production, as they do not take account of management objectives, financial factors or the state of markets, all of which will affect the level of and timing of harvesting.

More information on the forecasts and detailed breakdowns are available on the National Forest Inventory web pages at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

The forecasts are outside the scope of National Statistics, but are provided here to give more context to the data on wood production.

The key assumptions underpinning the headline softwood forecast scenario include:

- Private woodland is managed in a way that maximises total production.
- The estate of the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans; note both Forestry Commission Scotland and Natural Resources Wales intend to cap production below the level set out in Table 2.4a.

Under the above scenario, softwood availability for Great Britain averages 15.2 million cubic metres a year over the 50-year period 2013 to 2061 (Table 2.4a). The majority (66%) of this softwood is projected to come from private sector woodland.

Table 2.4a Softwood availability forecasts

| Annual average in the period | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-----------------------------|---------|-------|----------|----| | | thousand cubic metres overbark standing | | **FC/ NRW** | | | | | | 2013 - 2016 | 1 632 | 1 082 | 4 220 | 6 933 | | 2017 - 2021 | 1 330 | 991 | 3 658 | 5 980 | | 2022 - 2026 | 1 211 | 895 | 3 516 | 5 622 | | 2027 - 2031 | 1 159 | 778 | 3 789 | 5 726 | | 2032 - 2036 | 1 066 | 934 | 3 215 | 5 216 | | 2037 - 2041 | 1 013 | 794 | 2 936 | 4 744 | | 2042 - 2046 | 1 055 | 531 | 2 730 | 4 316 | | 2047 - 2051 | 1 014 | 585 | 3 280 | 4 879 | | 2052 - 2056 | 828 | 495 | 2 886 | 4 209 | | 2057 - 2061 | 1 250 | 679 | 2 339 | 4 269 | | **Private sector** | | | | | | 2013 - 2016 | 2 945 | 901 | 5 708 | 9 554 | | 2017 - 2021 | 3 225 | 949 | 6 997 | 11 171 | | 2022 - 2026 | 2 903 | 1 087 | 7 830 | 11 820 | | 2027 - 2031 | 2 986 | 775 | 8 910 | 12 671 | | 2032 - 2036 | 2 850 | 736 | 8 847 | 12 433 | | 2037 - 2041 | 2 224 | 679 | 8 133 | 11 035 | | 2042 - 2046 | 1 848 | 490 | 6 527 | 8 865 | | 2047 - 2051 | 1 523 | 521 | 4 986 | 7 030 | | Period | 2013 - 2016 | 2017 - 2021 | 2022 - 2026 | 2027 - 2031 | 2032 - 2036 | 2037 - 2041 | 2042 - 2046 | 2047 - 2051 | 2052 - 2056 | 2057 - 2061 | |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------| | Total softwood | 4 577 | 4 555 | 4 113 | 4 145 | 3 916 | 3 237 | 2 903 | 2 537 | 2 259 | 2 853 | | | 1 983 | 1 940 | 1 982 | 1 553 | 1 670 | 1 473 | 1 021 | 1 106 | 1 229 | 1 373 | | | 9 928 | 10 656 | 11 346 | 12 700 | 12 062 | 11 069 | 9 257 | 8 266 | 8 566 | 7 966 | | | 16 487 | 17 151 | 17 442 | 18 398 | 17 649 | 15 779 | 13 181 | 11 909 | 12 054 | 12 193 |

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of softwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014)

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 2.1.5 Hardwood availability forecast

The key assumptions underpinning the headline hardwood forecast scenario include:

- In private woodland, harvesting is limited to areas with evidence of recent thinning activity.
- The estate of the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales is managed according to current management plans.

Under the above scenario, hardwood availability for Great Britain averages 1.6 million cubic metres a year over the 50-year period (Table 2.4b). The majority (89%) of this softwood is projected to come from private sector woodland. If these woodlands were managed to maximise total production, the forecast would be much higher, as illustrated in the full National Forest Inventory report available at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

Table 2.4b Hardwood availability forecasts

| Annual average in the period | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |-----------------------------|---------|-------|----------|----| | | thousand cubic metres overbark standing | | **FC/ NRW** | | | | | | 2013 - 2016 | 126 | 12 | 9 | 147| | 2017 - 2021 | 92 | 11 | 9 | 111| | 2022 - 2026 | 110 | 17 | 10 | 137| | 2027 - 2031 | 86 | 12 | 10 | 108| | 2032 - 2036 | 99 | 14 | 15 | 128| | 2037 - 2041 | 129 | 19 | 24 | 172| | 2042 - 2046 | 189 | 56 | 31 | 276| | 2047 - 2051 | 116 | 19 | 40 | 175| | 2052 - 2056 | 134 | 28 | 45 | 208| | 2057 - 2061 | 146 | 28 | 64 | 237| | **Private sector** | | | | | | 2013 - 2016 | 122 | 20 | 83 | 225| | 2017 - 2021 | 333 | 46 | 139 | 519| | 2022 - 2026 | 538 | 77 | 193 | 808| | 2027 - 2031 | 720 | 100 | 233 | 1 054| | 2032 - 2036 | 825 | 115 | 262 | 1 202| | 2037 - 2041 | 1 047 | 153 | 367 | 1 567| | 2042 - 2046 | 1 915 | 243 | 586 | 2 743| | 2047 - 2051 | 1 678 | 227 | 675 | 2 580| | 2052 - 2056 | 1 254 | 198 | 554 | 2 006| | 2057 - 2061 | 645 | 139 | 343 | 1 127| | **Total softwood** | | | | | | 2013 - 2016 | 249 | 32 | 92 | 373| | 2017 - 2021 | 425 | 58 | 148 | 631| | 2022 - 2026 | 648 | 94 | 203 | 945| | 2027 - 2031 | 806 | 112 | 244 | 1 162| | 2032 - 2036 | 923 | 130 | 277 | 1 330| | 2037 - 2041 | 1 176 | 171 | 391 | 1 738| | Period | 2042 - 2046 | 2047 - 2051 | 2052 - 2056 | 2057 - 2061 | |-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------| | | 2 104 | 1 795 | 1 388 | 791 | | | 299 | 246 | 227 | 167 | | | 616 | 715 | 599 | 406 | | | 3 019 | 2 755 | 2 214 | 1 364 |

Source: National Forest Inventory: 50-year forecast of hardwood availability (Forestry Commission, April 2014)

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 2.2 Deliveries of UK-grown roundwood

Figures for deliveries relate to the quantity of UK-grown roundwood that is delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports). They are expressed in green tonnes (weight when freshly felled). Statistics on roundwood deliveries are used to monitor trends in the supply of, and demand for, UK-grown wood.

Deliveries should not be confused with removals, which are the quantities of roundwood that is harvested from UK woodland. Removals statistics are presented in Tables 2.1 to 2.3. A comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood is provided in the Sources chapter.

The data are derived from a number of sources, including surveys of the UK-grown timber industry, trade associations and expert estimates. 2.2.1 Softwood deliveries

In 2013, deliveries of UK roundwood (softwood and hardwood) totalled 11.1 million green tonnes, a 7% increase from the previous year (Tables 2.5 and 2.6).

Most UK roundwood deliveries (95%) were softwood and totalled 10.5 million green tonnes in 2013 (Table 2.5). 6.4 million green tonnes (61% of UK softwood deliveries) were used by sawmills, a 5% increase from the previous year. A further 1.3 million green tonnes were used to produce wood-based panels (unchanged from previous year), 0.5 million green tonnes by integrated pulp and paper mills (1% increase), and 2.4 million green tonnes for other uses (19% increase), including round fencing, woodfuel, shavings and exports of roundwood.

The increase in softwood deliveries for woodfuel in recent years reflects an increase in wood use for heating and energy production in the UK (see the Sources chapter for further information).

Table 2.5 Deliveries of UK-grown softwood, 2004-2013

| Year | Sawmills | Pulp mills | Wood-based panels | Fencing | Woodfuel¹ | Other² | Exports | Total | |------|----------|------------|-------------------|---------|-----------|--------|---------|-------| | | thousand green tonnes | | | | | | | | | 2004 | 4 953 | 483 | 1 525 | 272 | 100 | 79 | 610 | 8 021 | | 2005 | 4 924 | 500 | 1 502 | 317 | 100 | 95 | 705 | 8 143 | | 2006 | 5 210 | 481 | 1 365 | 274 | 100 | 114 | 643 | 8 187 | | 2007 | 5 565 | 472 | 1 362 | 319 | 200 | 113 | 759 | 8 790 | | 2008 | 4 933 | 515 | 1 219 | 359 | 300 | 128 | 733 | 8 187 | | 2009 | 5 133 | 511 | 1 135 | 367 | 650 | 160 | 347 | 8 304 | | 2010 | 5 616 | 428 | 1 375 | 349 | 900 | 135 | 467 | 9 269 | | 2011 | 5 859 | 453 | 1 417 | 363 | 900 | 145 | 585 | 9 722 | | 2012 | 6 073 | 461 | 1 269 | 338 | 1 000 | 154 | 535 | 9 831 | | 2013 | 6 407 | 465 | 1 263 | 332 | 1 250 | 191 | 640 | 10 548 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Woodfuel reported here is derived from stemwood, and from 2007 includes estimated roundwood use for biomass energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics, and from 2008 made use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey.

2. Includes shavings and poles. Quantities for some uses are estimates by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics.

Figure 2.1 Deliveries of UK-grown softwood

Source: industry surveys, industry associations. 2.2.2 Hardwood deliveries

There was a total of 0.5 million green tonnes of UK hardwood deliveries in 2013 (Table 2.6). The majority of UK hardwood deliveries (76% in 2013) were used for woodfuel.

Table 2.6 Deliveries of UK-grown hardwood, 2004-2013

| Year | Sawmills | Pulp mills | Wood-based panels | Woodfuel¹ | Other² | Total | |------|----------|------------|-------------------|-----------|--------|-------| | | thousand green tonnes | | | | | | | 2004 | 92 | 214 | 2 | 150 | 55 | 513 | | 2005 | 72 | 214 | 2 | 250 | 55 | 593 | | 2006 | 64 | 54 | 1 | 250 | 70 | 438 | | 2007 | 66 | 0 | 5 | 300 | 69 | 440 | | 2008 | 66 | 0 | 2 | 300 | 63 | 431 | | 2009 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 400 | 59 | 536 | | 2010 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 400 | 59 | 535 | | 2011 | 81 | 0 | 1 | 400 | 59 | 541 | | 2012 | 75 | 0 | 2 | 400 | 55 | 532 | | 2013 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 400 | 55 | 529 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Woodfuel reported here is derived from stemwood, and from 2007 includes estimated roundwood use for biomass energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics. The apparent increase in woodfuel from 2004 to 2005 reflects a new estimate of the level of hardwood deliveries for woodfuel and should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year. Woodfuel includes wood for charcoal; charcoal production in the UK is estimated to be about 5 thousand tonnes, with about 7 green tonnes of wood required to make one tonne of charcoal.

2. Includes round fencing and roundwood exports. Quantities for hardwood fencing and some other uses are estimates by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics.

Figure 2.2 Deliveries of UK-grown hardwood

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Other includes round fencing and roundwood exports. 2.3 Sawmills - All Mills

Data are collected by the Forestry Commission in an annual Sawmill Survey. Summary results, covering number of mills, consumption and production are available for all mills. More detailed figures are available for larger mills only (sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood).

Consumption units are given in green tonnes. For production, the units used are m³ sawnwood.

Use the links below to access data and sources on sawmills. 2.3.1 Summary: consumption & production

In 2013, sawmills in the UK consumed a total of 6.5 million green tonnes of softwood, a 5% increase from 2012 (Table 2.7). A further 0.1 million green tonnes of hardwood were consumed by UK sawmills in 2013. Most of the logs, 6.4 million green tonnes softwood and 0.1 million green tonnes hardwood, were UK grown.

A total of 3.6 million cubic metres of sawnwood was produced in the UK in 2013, a 5% increase from 2012.

For softwood, there was a significant drop in roundwood consumption and sawnwood production between 2007 and 2008, following the start of the financial crisis. Sawnwood imports also decreased at this time (see table 3.4). Since then the levels of softwood consumption and sawn softwood production in the UK have recovered and, since 2011, exceed the previous peak in 2007 (although imports remain at a lower level).

In addition to producing sawnwood, sawmills also generate other products. Further information on other products produced by larger mills are provided in Tables 2.18 and 2.18a.

Table 2.7 Consumption and production by UK sawmills, 2004-2013

| Year | Softwood | | | Hardwood | | | |------|----------|---|---|----------|---|---| | | Consumption of | Production | | Consumption of | Production | | | | UK grown | Imported | Total | UK grown | Imported | Total | | 2004 | 4 953 | 226 | 5 178 | 2 722 | 92 | 120 | 60 | | 2005 | 4 924 | 272 | 5 196 | 2 727 | 72 | 106 | 53 | | 2006 | 5 210 | 266 | 5 476 | 2 859 | 64 | 85 | 45 | | 2007 | 5 565 | 263 | 5 828 | 3 079 | 66 | 85 | 44 | | 2008 | 4 933 | 174 | 5 107 | 2 755 | 66 | 86 | 44 | | 2009 | 5 133 | 158 | 5 291 | 2 809 | 76 | 95 | 48 | | 2010 | 5 616 | 103 | 5 719 | 3 053 | 75 | 94 | 48 | | 2011 | 5 859 | 125 | 5 984 | 3 227 | 81 | 100 | 52 | | 2012 | 6 073 | 124 | 6 198 | 3 361 | 75 | 93 | 48 | | 2013 | 6 407 | 126 | 6 532 | 3 536 | 74 | 88 | 46 |

Source: Sawmill Survey 2.3.2 Number of sawmills by size

A total of 177 sawmills processed UK roundwood in 2013 (Table 2.8). Around three quarters (72%) of sawmills produced less than 10 thousand m³ sawnwood (softwood and hardwood) during the year.

Over the past ten years, there has been a reduction in the number of mills producing less than 25 thousand m³ sawnwood, while the number of larger mills has increased.

Table 2.8 Number of sawmills by size of mill, 2004-2013

| Year | < 1 | 1 - < 5 | 5 - < 10 | 10 - < 25 | 25 - < 50 | 50 + | Total | |------|-----|---------|---------|----------|----------|------|-------| | 2004 | 86 | 67 | 20 | 23 | 10 | 18 | 224 | | 2005 | 85 | 60 | 20 | 19 | 9 | 20 | 213 | | 2006 | 84 | 59 | 19 | 21 | 10 | 20 | 213 | | 2007 | 82 | 54 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 20 | 205 | | 2008 | 76 | 54 | 17 | 20 | 11 | 19 | 197 | | 2009 | 79 | 50 | 14 | 23 | 10 | 19 | 195 | | 2010 | 73 | 52 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 19 | 189 | | 2011 | 70 | 51 | 13 | 23 | 9 | 19 | 185 | | 2012 | 69 | 49 | 14 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 181 | | 2013 | 68 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 19 | 177 |

Source: Sawmill Survey

Notes:

1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m³.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.3.3 Number of sawmills by country

Around one half (52%) of the 177 active sawmills in 2013 (92) were in England, around one third (61) were in Scotland, 8% (15) in Wales and 5% (9) in Northern Ireland (Table 2.9).

Table 2.9 Number of sawmills by country, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | 2004 | 113 | 21 | 75 | 15 | 224| | 2005 | 108 | 20 | 71 | 14 | 213| | 2006 | 108 | 21 | 71 | 13 | 213| | 2007 | 105 | 20 | 70 | 10 | 205| | 2008 | 103 | 18 | 68 | 8 | 197| | 2009 | 101 | 17 | 68 | 9 | 195| | 2010 | 98 | 17 | 65 | 9 | 189| | 2011 | 96 | 16 | 64 | 9 | 185| | 2012 | 95 | 15 | 62 | 9 | 181| | 2013 | 92 | 15 | 61 | 9 | 177|

Source: Sawmill Survey

Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.3.4 Number of sawmills by type of wood sawn

Around two thirds (67%) of the 177 active sawmills in 2013 processed softwood only (Table 2.10). A further 27% processed both softwood and hardwood, and the remaining 6% processed only hardwood.

Table 2.10 Number of sawmills by type of wood sawn, 2004-2013

| Year | Softwood only | Hardwood only | Both | Total | |------|---------------|---------------|------|-------| | 2004 | 143 | 18 | 63 | 224 | | 2005 | 142 | 16 | 55 | 213 | | 2006 | 142 | 19 | 52 | 213 | | 2007 | 134 | 16 | 55 | 205 | | 2008 | 134 | 12 | 51 | 197 | | 2009 | 130 | 10 | 55 | 195 | | 2010 | 122 | 10 | 57 | 189 | | 2011 | 120 | 10 | 55 | 185 | | 2012 | 118 | 11 | 52 | 181 | | 2013 | 118 | 11 | 48 | 177 |

Source: Sawmill Survey 2.3.5 Consumption of softwood by size of mill

Despite accounting for only around one quarter of all sawmills (see Table 2.8), those with total annual sawnwood production of 10 thousand cubic metres or more accounted for 94% of the total softwood consumed by sawmills in 2013 (Table 2.11).

Table 2.11 Consumption of softwood by size of mill, 2004-2013

| Year | < 1 | 1 - < 5 | 5 - < 10 | 10 - < 25 | 25 - < 50 | 50 + | |------|-----|---------|---------|----------|----------|------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004 | 31 | 218 | 216 | 630 | 686 | 3 397| | 2005 | 29 | 230 | 232 | 518 | 579 | 3 607| | 2006 | 29 | 200 | 243 | 613 | 661 | 3 730| | 2007 | 30 | 184 | 203 | 585 | 840 | 3 985| | 2008 | 31 | 197 | 190 | 599 | 660 | 3 430| | 2009 | 35 | 183 | 163 | 664 | 577 | 3 668| | 2010 | 33 | 188 | 155 | 744 | 537 | 4 062| | 2011 | 32 | 180 | 156 | 685 | 615 | 4 316| | 2012 | 33 | 176 | 184 | 539 | 738 | 4 528| | 2013 | 36 | 177 | 177 | 476 | 804 | 4 862|

Source: Sawmill Survey

Notes:

1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m³.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.3.6 Consumption of softwood by country

Mills in Scotland consumed around one half (52%) of the 6.5 million green tonnes of softwood delivered to UK sawmills in 2013 (Table 2.12). A further 29% was consumed by mills in England, 11% in Wales and 8% in Northern Ireland.

Table 2.12 Consumption of softwood by country, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | 2004 | 1 394 | 813 | 2 310 | 662 | 5 178 | | 2005 | 1 416 | 746 | 2 349 | 685 | 5 196 | | 2006 | 1 603 | 757 | 2 430 | 686 | 5 476 | | 2007 | 1 674 | 759 | 2 683 | 713 | 5 828 | | 2008 | 1 533 | 599 | 2 415 | 560 | 5 107 | | 2009 | 1 548 | 538 | 2 672 | 532 | 5 291 | | 2010 | 1 694 | 583 | 2 913 | 528 | 5 719 | | 2011 | 1 726 | 634 | 3 082 | 543 | 5 984 | | 2012 | 1 821 | 654 | 3 195 | 528 | 6 198 | | 2013 | 1 879 | 702 | 3 420 | 532 | 6 532 |

Source: Sawmill Survey

Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.3.7 Production of sawn softwood by size of mill

UK sawmills produced a total of 3.5 million cubic metres of sawn softwood in 2012, a 5% increase from the 2012 figure (Table 2.13).

Sawmills with total annual sawnwood production of 10 thousand cubic metres or more accounted for 94% of the total sawn softwood produced by sawmills in 2013.

Table 2.13 Production of sawn softwood by size of mill, 2004-2013

| Year | < 1 | 1 - < 5 | 5 - < 10 | 10 - < 25 | 25 - < 50 | 50 + | |------|-----|---------|----------|-----------|-----------|------| | | | | | | | | | 2004 | 17 | 126 | 119 | 331 | 368 | 1 761| | 2005 | 17 | 116 | 121 | 278 | 317 | 1 877| | 2006 | 17 | 118 | 128 | 326 | 359 | 1 911| | 2007 | 17 | 109 | 111 | 315 | 437 | 2 090| | 2008 | 18 | 116 | 104 | 315 | 369 | 1 834| | 2009 | 20 | 108 | 89 | 352 | 326 | 1 914| | 2010 | 19 | 109 | 84 | 395 | 304 | 2 143| | 2011 | 18 | 105 | 86 | 374 | 335 | 2 309| | 2012 | 18 | 103 | 95 | 314 | 393 | 2 438| | 2013 | 20 | 103 | 93 | 287 | 429 | 2 605|

Source: Sawmill Survey

Notes:

1. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m³.

Data: Longer time series of the above table are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.3.8 Production of sawn softwood by country

1.9 million cubic metres (53%) of sawn softwood was produced by sawmills in Scotland in 2013 (Table 2.14). A further 29% was produced by mills in England, 10% in Wales and the remaining 8% in Northern Ireland.

Whilst production of sawn softwood by mills in Scotland and England had recovered following the financial crisis to exceed their 2007 peak levels by 2010, production by mills in Wales and Northern Ireland continues to remain lower.

Table 2.14 Production of sawn softwood by country, 2004-2013

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|----| | 2004 | 744 | 408 | 1 228 | 342 | 2 722 | | 2005 | 746 | 368 | 1 247 | 365 | 2 727 | | 2006 | 853 | 378 | 1 297 | 332 | 2 859 | | 2007 | 884 | 385 | 1 452 | 359 | 3 079 | | 2008 | 846 | 303 | 1 313 | 293 | 2 755 | | 2009 | 860 | 267 | 1 413 | 268 | 2 809 | | 2010 | 927 | 291 | 1 560 | 275 | 3 053 | | 2011 | 954 | 316 | 1 666 | 291 | 3 227 | | 2012 | 1 001 | 326 | 1 747 | 288 | 3 361 | | 2013 | 1 026 | 349 | 1 873 | 289 | 3 536 |

Source: Sawmill Survey

Data: Longer time series of the above table, and for mills in England by region, are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.4 Sawmills - Larger Mills

The following, more detailed, tables are available for larger mills (those producing at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood annually) only. These mills are estimated to account for 94% of all sawn softwood produced in 2013 (see Table 2.13).

The tables cover the following topics:

- Source of softwood logs;
- Sawn softwood product markets;
- Other softwood products; and
- Sawmill employment. 2.4.1 Softwood consumption and production

Additional information for 2013 was collected from mills that, based on their responses to previous surveys, were believed to produce more than 10 thousand m$^3$ of sawnwood.

Total softwood consumption by all sawmills covered by the detailed sawmill survey was 6.1 million green tonnes in 2013 (Table 2.15). Sawn softwood production was 3.3 million m$^3$ and other softwood products (chips, bark, sawdust, etc) amounted to 3.2 million tonnes.

Sawmills in Scotland accounted for around one half (53%) of all softwood consumption by larger mills. A further 28% was consumed by mills in England, 11% in Wales and the remaining 8% in Northern Ireland.

Table 2.15 Larger mills$^1$, 2013: softwood consumption and production

| | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|-------| | Number of mills | 17 | 5 | 24 | 3 | 49 | | Consumption | | | | | | | (thousand green tonnes) | 1 702 | 661 | 3 267 | 513 | 6 143 | | Sawnwood production | | | | | | | (thousand m$^3$) | 924 | 329 | 1 787 | 280 | 3 320 | | Other products | | | | | | | (thousand tonnes) | 782 | 376 | 1 735 | 278 | 3 170 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m$^3$ sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2.4.2 Source of softwood logs

Of all softwood sawlogs consumed by larger sawmills in 2013, 58% came from Scotland, 22% from England, 13% from Wales and 5% from Northern Ireland (Tables 2.16 and 2.16a). The remaining 2% were imported from other countries. This was similar to the breakdown by source in previous years.

94% of softwood sawlogs used by Scottish mills in 2013 came from Scotland. The corresponding proportions of mills' log use coming from within the same country were 67% for England, 79% for Wales and 61% for Northern Ireland.

Table 2.16 Larger mills(^1), 2013: source of softwood logs

| Source | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |-----------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----------| | | thousand green tonnes | | England | 1 143 | 42 | 177 | 0 | 1 361 | | Wales | 276 | 520 | 5 | 0 | 801 | | Scotland | 282 | 99 | 3 085 | 73 | 3 539 | | Northern Ireland| 0 | 0 | 0 | 315 | 315 | | **Total UK logs** | **1 702** | **661** | **3 267** | **387** | **6 017** | | Other countries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 126 | | **Total log consumption** | **1 702** | **661** | **3 267** | **513** | **6 143** |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m(^3) sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).

Table 2.16a Larger mills(^1), 2009-2013: source of softwood logs

| Year | Source | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Other countries | Total | |------|-----------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|-----------------|-------| | | | per cent of total consumption | | 2009 | 22 | 12 | 57 | 7 | 3 | 100 | | 2010 | 19 | 13 | 60 | 6 | 2 | 100 | | 2011 | 21 | 13 | 59 | 5 | 2 | 100 | | 2012 | 22 | 13 | 57 | 5 | 2 | 100 | | 2013 | 22 | 13 | 58 | 5 | 2 | 100 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m(^3) sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2.4.3 Sawn softwood product markets

In 2013, 34% of sawn softwood produced by larger sawmills was used for fencing, 32% for packaging and pallets, 29% for construction, and the remaining 5% went to all other markets (Tables 2.17 and 2.17a).

Table 2.17 Larger mills(^1), 2013: sawn softwood product markets

| Product market | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|----| | Construction | 15 | 22 | 36 | 41 | 29 | | Fencing | 51 | 27 | 26 | 39 | 34 | | Packaging/ pallets | 28 | 48 | 33 | 20 | 32 | | Other | 6 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | | **Total** | **100** | **100** | **100** | **100** | **100** |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m(^3) sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).

Table 2.17a Larger mills(^1), 2009-2013: sawn softwood product markets

| Year | Construction | Fencing | Packaging/ pallets | Other | Total | |------|--------------|---------|--------------------|-------|-------| | 2009 | 30 | 35 | 35 | 1 | 100 | | 2010 | 31 | 36 | 32 | 2 | 100 | | 2011 | 28 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 100 | | 2012 | 29 | 34 | 32 | 4 | 100 | | 2013 | 29 | 34 | 32 | 5 | 100 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m(^3) sawnwood (softwood and hardwood). 2.4.4 Other softwood products

Sawmills were asked to estimate the quantity of other products (excluding sawnwood) that they generated from softwood and sold to different industries. The figures presented below are based on these estimates.

Other softwood products amounted to 3.2 million tonnes in 2013 (Table 2.15). Almost one half (46%) of other softwood products were sold to wood processing industries in the form of chips and 14% were sold to these industries in other formats (Table 2.18). A further 21% of other products were sold to bio-energy (including pellet manufacturers) and 17% were sold to others.

Table 2.18 Larger mills(^1), 2013: other softwood products

| Destination and type of product(^2) | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |--------------------------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----| | **Sold to wood processing industries** | | | | | | | Wood chips | 53 | 62 | 46 | 0 | 46 | | Bark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Sawdust & other | 14 | 16 | 17 | 0 | 14 | | **Total** | 70 | 78 | 63 | 0 | 61 | | **Sold to bio-energy** (incl pellet manufacturers) | | | | | | | Wood chips | 10 | 3 | 16 | 49 | 16 | | Bark | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | | Sawdust & other | 1 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 4 | | **Total** | 11 | 5 | 20 | 73 | 21 | | **Other sales** | | | | | | | Wood chips | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 3 | | Bark | 8 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 8 | | Sawdust & other | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | | **Total** | 18 | 10 | 16 | 27 | 17 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m(^3) sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. The table does not show internal use for heat/energy, sales of firewood and disposed of as waste, which together accounted for around 2% of other softwood products.

The proportions of other products that were sold to different industries have changed little over the last five years (Table 2.18a).

Table 2.18a Larger mills(^1), 2009-2013: other softwood products

| Year | Sold to wood processing industries | Sold to bio-energy (incl pellet manufacturers) | Other sales | Other(^2) | Total | |------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------|------------|-------| | | per cent of total other softwood products | per cent of total other softwood products | | | | | 2009 | 63 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 100 | | 2010 | 57 | 20 | 21 | 2 | 100 | | Year | Count | 20 | 19 | 1 | 100 | |------|-------|----|----|---|-----| | 2011 | 60 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 100 | | 2012 | 59 | 21 | 18 | 1 | 100 | | 2013 | 61 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 100 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. Other includes internal use for heat/energy, sales of firewood and other products disposed of as waste. 2.4.5 Sawmill employment

There were estimated to be 3.0 thousand full-time equivalent staff employed directly by sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m³ of sawnwood in 2013 (Table 2.19). This represented a 2% decrease on the total for 2012.

Table 2.19 Larger mills¹, 2013: sawmill employment

| Employment type | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------------------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|----------| | | | | | | full-time equivalents | | Direct | | | | | | | Line & production workers | 873 | 240 | 1 208 | 231 | 2 552 | | Managerial & administrative staff| 155 | 30 | 159 | 69 | 413 | | Haulage of logs to the mill | 29 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 53 | | **Total direct employment** | **1 057**| **271**| **1 386**| **304** | **3 018**| | Others² | | | | | | | Line & production workers | 38 | 6 | 63 | 1 | 108 | | Managerial & administrative staff| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | | **Total contract employment** | **39** | **6** | **64** | **1** | **110** |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. Excludes haulage employment on contract.

Table 2.19a Larger mills¹, 2009-2013: sawmill employment

| Employment | Line & production workers | Managerial & administrative staff | Haulage of logs to the mill | Total employment | |------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------| | | | | | full-time equivalents | | Direct | | | | | | 2009 | 2 189 | 419 | 56 | 2 664 | | 2010 | 2 441 | 447 | 69 | 2 957 | | 2011 | 2 486 | 435 | 71 | 2 992 | | 2012 | 2 573 | 426 | 67 | 3 065 | | 2013 | 2 552 | 413 | 53 | 3 018 | | Others² | | | | | | 2009 | 65 | 10 | .. | 75 | | 2010 | 122 | 4 | .. | 126 | | 2011 | 86 | 3 | .. | 89 | | 2012 | 69 | 1 | .. | 70 | | 2013 | 108 | 2 | .. | 110 |

Source: Sawmill Survey (detailed)

Notes:

1. Sawmills producing at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood (softwood and hardwood).
2. Excludes haulage employment on contract. 2.5 Pulp & paper

Statistics on inputs to the pulp & paper industry only cover the integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK that use UK roundwood. There were four such mills until 2003, three from 2004 and two from spring 2006. Figures on inputs are provided by the UK Forest Products Association.

Figures on production of pulp and paper are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries, and cover all paper production in the UK, not just from mills using UK roundwood. 2.5.1 Inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills

The integrated pulp & paper mills in the UK consumed a total of 0.5 million tonnes of material (all softwood) in 2013, a 1% increase from the 2012 total (Table 2.20).

UK roundwood represented 85% of the inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills in 2013, with the remaining 15% coming from sawmill products.

Table 2.20 Inputs for the integrated pulp & paper mills1, 2004-2013

| Year | UK roundwood2 | Sawmill products | Total | |------|----------------|------------------|-------| | | Softwood | Hardwood | Softwood | Hardwood | Softwood | Hardwood | | 2004 | 483 | 214 | 143 | 0 | 626 | 214 | | 2005 | 500 | 214 | 138 | 0 | 638 | 214 | | 2006 | 481 | 54 | 145 | 0 | 626 | 54 | | 2007 | 472 | 0 | 161 | 0 | 633 | 0 | | 2008 | 515 | 0 | 152 | 0 | 667 | 0 | | 2009 | 511 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 631 | 0 | | 2010 | 428 | 0 | 98 | 0 | 526 | 0 | | 2011 | 453 | 0 | 99 | 0 | 552 | 0 | | 2012 | 461 | 0 | 79 | 0 | 540 | 0 | | 2013 | 465 | 0 | 83 | 0 | 548 | 0 |

Source: UK Forest Products Association

Notes:

1. Excludes inputs of recycled paper and cardboard.

2. UK roundwood derived from stemwood.

Figure 2.3 Inputs to integrated pulp and paper mills

Source: UK Forest Products Association 2.5.2 Production of paper

Figures for the production of paper (Table 2.21) are provided by the Confederation of Paper Industries. They cover all paper production from UK mills, not just those using UK roundwood. Most UK paper production uses recovered waste paper or imported pulp.

A total of 4.6 million tonnes of paper and paperboard was produced in the UK in 2013, an increase of 2% from the previous year. Packaging materials accounted for 41% of the total UK paper production in 2013, graphic papers (including newsprint) for 36%, and sanitary and household papers for 18%.

Table 2.21 Production of paper and paperboard, 2004-2013

| Year | Graphic papers (incl newsprint) | Sanitary & household papers | Packaging materials | Other | Total paper & paperboard | |------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------|-------|-------------------------| | | thousand tonnes | | | | | | 2004 | 2 632 | 806 | 2 230 | 572 | 6 240 | | 2005 | 2 654 | 801 | 1 989 | 595 | 6 039 | | 2006 | 2 483 | 805 | 1 999 | 301 | 5 588 | | 2007 | 2 229 | 834 | 1 852 | 313 | 5 228 | | 2008 | 2 063 | 783 | 1 838 | 299 | 4 983 | | 2009 | 1 609 | 736 | 1 702 | 246 | 4 293 | | 2010 | 1 637 | 729 | 1 640 | 294 | 4 300 | | 2011 | 1 669 | 766 | 1 600 | 307 | 4 342 | | 2012 | 1 616 | 795 | 1 798 | 271 | 4 480 | | 2013 | 1 636 | 802 | 1 851 | 272 | 4 561 |

Source: Confederation of Paper Industries 2.6 Wood-based panels

Wood-based panels include oriented strand board (OSB), wood chipboard and cement bonded particleboard (which are all types of particleboard), and medium density fibreboard (MDF) and other fibreboard (which are both types of fibreboard).

Statistics on wood-based panels are provided by the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF). 2.6.1 Inputs for wood-based panel products

Table 2.22 and Figure 2.4 show the inputs to mills that produce wood-based panels in the UK. The mills used a total of 3.8 million tonnes of material in 2013, a 5% decrease from 2012. The inputs in 2013 comprised 1.3 million tonnes of roundwood (33%), 1.7 million tonnes of sawmill products (45%) and 0.9 million tonnes of recycled wood fibre (22%).

Table 2.22 Inputs to wood-based panel mills, 2004-2013

| Year | UK roundwood¹ | Sawmill products | Imports² | Total | |------|----------------|------------------|----------|-------| | | Soft wood | Hard wood | Soft wood| Hard wood | Soft wood | Hard wood | Recycled wood fibre³ | | | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | | 2004 | 1 525 | 2 1 778 | 0 9 0 | 3 312 2 | 1 078 | | 2005 | 1 502 | 2 1 732 | 2 6 0 | 3 240 4 | 1 043 | | 2006 | 1 365 | 1 1 794 | 0 3 0 | 3 162 1 | 1 173 | | 2007 | 1 362 | 5 1 940 | 0 2 0 | 3 304 5 | 1 230 | | 2008 | 1 219 | 2 1 591 | 0 0 0 | 2 810 2 | 1 119 | | 2009 | 1 135 | 1 1 435 | 0 0 0 | 2 570 1 | 1 065 | | 2010 | 1 375 | 1 1 631 | 0 7 1 | 3 013 2 | 1 120 | | 2011 | 1 417 | 1 1 779 | 0 0 0 | 3 196 1 | 952 | | 2012 | 1 269 | 2 1 851 | 0 0 0 | 3 120 2 | 909 | | 2013 | 1 263 | 0 1 709 | 0 0 0 | 2 972 0 | 853 |

Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation

Notes:

1. UK roundwood derived from stemwood.

2. Imports include roundwood, wood products and products from imported wood.

3. Recycled wood fibre is wood fibre recovered from both pre- and post-consumer wood waste for use in wood-based panel production. Quantities are as delivered.

Figure 2.4 Inputs to wood-based panel mills

Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation 2.6.2 Production of wood-based panel products

Total production of wood-based panels in 2013 was 3.0 million cubic metres, a 1% increase from 2012 (Table 2.23). Three quarters (75%) of wood-based panel products produced in the UK in 2013 were particleboard (including oriented strand board (OSB)).

Table 2.23 Wood-based panel production, 2004-2013

| Year | Particleboard¹ | Fibreboard² | Total | |------|----------------|-------------|-------| | | thousand cubic metres | thousand cubic metres | thousand cubic metres | | 2004 | 2 653 | 880 | 3 533 | | 2005 | 2 557 | 841 | 3 398 | | 2006 | 2 626 | 872 | 3 498 | | 2007 | 2 684 | 865 | 3 549 | | 2008 | 2 431 | 709 | 3 140 | | 2009 | 2 370 | 660 | 3 030 | | 2010 | 2 594 | 776 | 3 370 | | 2011 | 2 625 | 759 | 3 384 | | 2012 | 2 215 | 788 | 3 003 | | 2013 | 2 276 | 756 | 3 032 |

Source: Wood Panel Industries Federation

Notes:

1. Includes Oriented Strand Board (OSB).

2. Includes Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF). 2.7 Miscellaneous products

Softwood

Data for softwood fencing are obtained from the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers. Figures for other uses are reported by manufacturers or are estimated by representatives of the wood processing industries.

Around 1.25 million green tonnes of UK softwood were estimated to have been used directly for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2013, an increase of 25% from the previous year (Table 2.24). A further 332 thousand green tonnes of UK softwood were consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 191 thousand green tonnes for other uses in 2013.

Table 2.24 Miscellaneous uses of UK softwood roundwood, 2004-2013

| Year | Fencing | Woodfuel(^1) | Other(^2) | Total thousand green tonnes | |------|---------|----------------|------------|---------------------------| | 2004 | 272 | 100 | 79 | 451 | | 2005 | 317 | 100 | 95 | 512 | | 2006 | 274 | 100 | 114 | 488 | | 2007 | 319 | 200 | 113 | 633 | | 2008 | 359 | 300 | 128 | 787 | | 2009 | 367 | 650 | 160 | 1 178 | | 2010 | 349 | 900 | 135 | 1 384 | | 2011 | 363 | 900 | 145 | 1 408 | | 2012 | 338 | 1 000 | 154 | 1 492 | | 2013 | 332 | 1 250 | 191 | 1 773 |

Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Woodfuel reported here is derived from stemwood, and from 2007 includes estimated roundwood use for biomass energy. The figures are estimated by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics, and from 2008 made use of woodfuel data reported in the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey.

2. Includes shavings, poles and woodwool.

Hardwood

An estimated 400 thousand green tonnes of UK hardwood were used for woodfuel (including biomass energy) in 2013. A further 30 thousand green tonnes were estimated to have been consumed by round fencing manufacturers and 25 thousand green tonnes for other uses, including exports. 2.7.1 Softwood round fencing manufacturers

There were 61 active round fencing manufacturers in 2013 (Table 2.25).

Over two thirds of round fencing manufacturers (70%) consumed less than 5 thousand green tonnes of softwood annually.

Table 2.25 Number of softwood round fencing manufacturers, 2004-2013

| Year | < 1 | 1 - < 5 | 5 - < 10 | 10 + | Total | |------|-----|---------|----------|------|-------| | 2004 | 25 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 69 | | 2005 | 24 | 25 | 8 | 8 | 65 | | 2006 | 25 | 31 | 7 | 6 | 69 | | 2007 | 29 | 28 | 10 | 8 | 75 | | 2008 | 22 | 27 | 11 | 7 | 67 | | 2009 | 22 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 68 | | 2010 | 22 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 65 | | 2011 | 22 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 64 | | 2012 | 22 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 61 | | 2013 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 61 |

Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers

Notes:

1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes.

Data: Longer time series of the number of softwood round fencing manufacturers, by size category and by country (England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland) are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.7.2 Roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers

A total of 347 thousand green tonnes of softwood (UK grown and imported) was purchased by softwood fencing manufacturers in 2013 (Table 2.26). This represents a decrease of 4% from the 2012 total of 360 thousand green tonnes.

Table 2.26 Roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers, 2004-2013

| Year | Size category (consumption) | Total | |------|-----------------------------|-------| | | < 1 | 1 - < 5 | 5 - < 10 | 10 + | | 2004 | 8 | 73 | 59 | 154 | 293 | | 2005 | 8 | 65 | 56 | 235 | 364 | | 2006 | 9 | 83 | 52 | 156 | 301 | | 2007 | 11 | 67 | 66 | 201 | 345 | | 2008 | 8 | 68 | 70 | 239 | 385 | | 2009 | 7 | 66 | 82 | 239 | 394 | | 2010 | 7 | 63 | 86 | 213 | 369 | | 2011 | 8 | 65 | 60 | 250 | 383 | | 2012 | 8 | 57 | 69 | 226 | 360 | | 2013 | 7 | 57 | 79 | 204 | 347 |

Source: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers

Notes:

1. Categories are based on total softwood consumption, in thousand green tonnes.
2. This table includes purchases of both UK grown and imported softwood, whereas table 2.24 relates to UK grown softwood only.

Data: Longer time series of the number of softwood round fencing manufacturers, by size category and by country (England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland) are available from the Timber Statistics web page. 2.8 Exports

UK softwood exports in 2013 consisted of 379 thousand green tonnes of industrial roundwood (excluding sawlogs) and 260 thousand green tonnes of logs, giving a total of 640 thousand green tonnes of roundwood (Table 2.27). This corresponded to a 19% increase in the quantity of softwood roundwood exports since 2012, although it remains lower than the level in the period 2005 to 2008. The increase was driven by a doubling in softwood log exports between 2012 and 2013.

The UK also exported 126 thousand tonnes of softwood chips in 2013, an 11% decrease from the previous year.

Table 2.27 Summary of softwood exports(^1), 2004-2013

| Year | Roundwood | Chips | |------|-----------|-------| | | Industrial roundwood | Logs | Total | | | thousand green tonnes | thousand green tonnes | | 2004 | 465 | 145 | 610 | 320 | | 2005 | 560 | 145 | 705 | 150 | | 2006 | 505 | 138 | 643 | 214 | | 2007 | 588 | 171 | 759 | 251 | | 2008 | 556 | 176 | 733 | 176 | | 2009 | 244 | 104 | 347 | 125 | | 2010 | 301 | 166 | 467 | 136 | | 2011 | 415 | 171 | 585 | 158 | | 2012 | 405 | 130 | 535 | 142 | | 2013 | 379 | 260 | 640 | 126 |

Source: industry associations

Notes:

1. Includes all roundwood other than sawlogs. 2.9 Certification

Forest certification assesses forest management practices against an agreed standard and awards a label to those forest products that meet the standard. In order for products to achieve certification, both forest management practices and the Chain of Custody, which tracks timber from forest to retail outlet, must be assessed.

The following tables provide information on the level of certified wood produced in the UK (Table 2.28) and the number of sawmills and round fencing manufacturers holding Chain of Custody certificates (Table 2.29). 2.9.1 Volume certified

Respondents to Forestry Commission surveys were asked to report on volumes certified. 78% of private sector softwood removals in 2013 were from certified sources, the highest percentage to date (Table 2.28). The percentage of private sector softwood removals that are certified has fluctuated over recent years, reflecting a general reduction in the level of certification amongst smaller estates and an increase in production from larger estates.

As nearly all removals from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service woodland are certified, this equates to around 88% of all softwood removals in 2013 from certified sources.

83% of sawmills' roundwood consumption in 2013 was certified. For round fencing manufacturers, 55% of total softwood consumption was certified.

Table 2.28 Per cent of volume certified, 2004-2013

| Year | Softwood from Private sector woodland | Total softwood removals | Sawmills Consumption (softwood and hardwood) | Round fencing manufacturers Consumption (softwood) per cent certified volume | |------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2004 | 73 | 89 | 80 | 58 | | 2005 | 69 | 87 | 76 | 53 | | 2006 | 67 | 86 | 81 | 46 | | 2007 | 74 | 88 | 78 | 54 | | 2008 | 65 | 84 | 82 | 62 | | 2009 | 68 | 87 | 83 | 51 | | 2010 | 73 | 87 | 83 | 62 | | 2011 | 72 | 85 | 80 | 61 | | 2012 | 70 | 84 | 82 | 60 | | 2013 | 78 | 88 | 83 | 55 |

Source: industry surveys

Notes:

1. For nearly all removals from FC/NRW/FS woodland, the source is certified. 2.9.2 Chain of custody certificates

Sawmills and round fencing manufacturers were also asked whether they held a Chain of Custody certificate. 64% of sawmills for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate in 2013 (Table 2.29). This proportion varied with size of mill, from 27% for mills producing less than 5 thousand m$^3$ sawnwood to 100% for those producing 25 thousand m$^3$ sawnwood or more. The majority (54%) of round fencing manufacturers for which the certification status was known held a Chain of Custody certificate.

Table 2.29 Chain of custody certificates, 2013

| Sawmills$^2$ (size of mill$^3$) | Mills holding certificate | Mills without certificate | Certification status not known | Total$^1$ | |---------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------| | < 5 | 10 | 27 | 77 | 114 | | 5 - < 25 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 31 | | 25 + | 30 | 0 | 2 | 32 | | All sawmills | 56 | 32 | 89 | 177 | | Round fencing manufacturers | 13 | 11 | 37 | 61 |

Source: industry surveys

Notes:

1. Includes non-respondents to survey in current year.

2. For large sawmills (those producing at least 10 thousand m$^3$) that did not report whether or not they held a certificate or did not respond to the 2013 survey, the certification status was obtained from the FSC database, where possible.

3. Categories are based on total sawnwood production (softwood and hardwood), in thousand m$^3$. 2.10 Woodfuel and pellets

The following page provides data on woodfuel sales and use from the sawmill survey and survey of round fencing manufacturers.

In addition, estimates of roundwood used directly for woodfuel are provided in tables 2.5 and 2.6.

Results from a survey of woodfuel suppliers, run in Spring 2009, were provided in Forestry Statistics 2009.

Recycled wood used for woodfuel

Estimates of recycled wood used for woodfuel are produced annually by the Wood Recyclers' Association. In 2013, it is estimated that 825 thousand tonnes of recycled wood were used for woodfuel, an increase of 9% from the 2012 estimate of 759 thousand tonnes. Over the past six years, the quantity of recycled wood used for woodfuel has more than trebled.

Wood pellet production

Results from the survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production are provided in Table 2.31. 2.10.1 Woodfuel supply by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers

An estimated 614 thousand green tonnes (mainly softwood) of woodfuel were supplied by sawmills in 2013 and a further 66 thousand green tonnes were supplied by round fencing manufacturers (Table 2.30). 89% of the total woodfuel supplied was sold to bioenergy.

Table 2.30 Woodfuel supply(^1) by sawmills and round fencing manufacturers, 2009-2013

| | Sales to bioenergy | Sales as firewood | Used internally for heat/energy | Total thousand green tonnes | |------------------|--------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------| | **Sawmills** | | | | | | 2009 | 346 | 14 | 21 | 381 | | 2010 | 416 | 12 | 49 | 478 | | 2011 | 491 | 14 | 26 | 531 | | 2012 | 540 | 14 | 43 | 597 | | 2013 | 542 | 17 | 55 | 614 | | **Round fencing manufacturers** | | | | | | 2009 | 45 | 12 | 1 | 58 | | 2010 | 53 | 5 | 0 | 58 | | 2011 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 61 | | 2012 | 71 | 4 | 1 | 76 | | 2013 | 60 | 5 | 0 | 66 |

Source: Sawmill Survey, Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers

Notes:

1. Material reported as sales/use for woodfuel, but may have been used for other purposes. 2.10.2 Wood pellet production

Wood pellets and briquettes are processed wood products that can be made from roundwood, sawmill products and/or recycled wood. Some of the wood used to make wood pellets and briquettes will be accounted for elsewhere in this release (e.g. in Table 2.30). Wood pellets and briquettes are often used for woodfuel, but pellets may also be used for other purposes (such as horse bedding or cat litter).

A total of 301 thousand tonnes of wood pellets and briquettes are estimated to have been produced in the UK in 2013. This represents an increase of 8% from the 2012 estimate of 278 thousand tonnes and continues the upward trend since 2009.

Table 2.31 Wood pellet production, 2009 - 2013

| Year | Total thousand tonnes | |------|-----------------------| | 2009 | 118 | | 2010 | 197 | | 2011 | 244 | | 2012 | 278 | | 2013 | 301 |

Source: Survey of UK Pellet and Briquette Production 3 Trade

Introduction

This chapter contains information about UK imports and exports of wood products, and about the level of apparent consumption estimated from data for UK production, imports and exports.

Information on imports and exports mainly comes from the Overseas Trade Statistics compiled by HM Revenue & Customs. Estimates are provided at a UK level only. International comparisons of apparent consumption are provided in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Figures for 2013 were previously published in “UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 Provisional Figures”, released on 15 May 2014. Some figures for 2013 have been revised from those previously published. For further details on revisions, see the Trade section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all trade tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

UK imports:

- 5.5 million cubic metres of sawnwood in 2013, a 6% increase from the 2012 figure;
- 3.0 million cubic metres of wood-based panels in 2013, a 12% increase from 2012;
- 5.0 million cubic metres of wood pellets in 2013, a 128% increase from 2012;
- 5.9 million tonnes of paper in 2013, a 3% decrease from 2012.
- The total value of wood product imports in 2013 was £6.7 billion, of which £4.2 billion was pulp and paper.
- Sawn softwood, particleboard, fibreboard, and paper and paperboard were overwhelmingly imported from EU countries in 2013.
- Sawn hardwood and wood pulp imports originated from a range of both EU and non-EU countries in 2013.
- The vast majority of UK imports of plywood in 2013 came from countries outwith the EU.

UK exports:

- The total value of wood product exports in 2013 was £1.7 billion, of which £1.5 billion was pulp and paper. 3.1 Apparent consumption of wood in the UK

Apparent consumption is the amount of timber, measured as wood raw material equivalent (WRME) underbark, used as wood and wood products by people and industries in the United Kingdom. It is calculated as total United Kingdom production plus imports, minus exports. Apparent consumption differs from actual consumption by the extent of changes in the level of stocks. It is not practical to collect information on actual consumption.

UK production of roundwood totalled 10.8 million m$^3$ WRME underbark in 2013 (Table 3.1). A further 42.2 million m$^3$ WRME underbark of wood and wood products were imported to the UK and 6.2 million m$^3$ WRME underbark were exported, giving apparent consumption of 46.8 million m$^3$ WRME underbark. This represented an 8% increase in apparent consumption from the previous year. These figures exclude recycled wood and recovered paper (see Table 3.3 for statistics on recovered paper).

Imports accounted for 80% of all wood (production + imports) in the UK in 2013.

Table 3.1 Apparent consumption of wood$^1$ in the UK, 2004-2013

| Year | UK production$^2$ | Imports | Exports | Apparent Consumption | |------|------------------|---------|---------|----------------------| | | million m$^3$ WRME underbark | | | million m$^3$ WRME underbark | | 2004 | 8.3 | 53.2 | 7.5 | 54.0 | | 2005 | 8.5 | 51.2 | 5.8 | 54.0 | | 2006 | 8.4 | 53.6 | 5.9 | 56.1 | | 2007 | 9.0 | 54.5 | 6.8 | 56.7 | | 2008 | 8.4 | 46.3 | 5.3 | 49.4 | | 2009 | 8.6 | 39.5 | 4.2 | 44.0 | | 2010 | 9.6 | 41.6 | 5.5 | 45.8 | | 2011 | 10.0 | 40.6 | 5.2 | 45.5 | | 2012 | 10.1 | 39.6 | 6.5 | 43.2 | | 2013 | 10.8 | 42.2 | 6.2 | 46.8 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs) and conversion factors to Wood Raw Material Equivalent (WRME).

Notes:

1. Excludes recovered paper.
2. UK production of roundwood is estimated from deliveries to wood processing industries and others, as in tables 2.5 and 2.6.

Figure 3.1 Apparent consumption of wood$^1$ in the UK, 1999-2013

Source: industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs) and conversion factors to Wood Raw Material Equivalent (WRME). Notes:

1. Excludes recovered paper.

2. UK production of roundwood is estimated from deliveries to wood processing industries and others, as in tables 2.5 and 2.6. 3.2 Apparent consumption of wood products in the UK

UK production accounted for 40% of the UK sawnwood market, 55% of the UK wood-based panel market and 49% of the UK paper market in 2013 (Table 3.2).

Table 3.2 Apparent consumption of wood products(^1,2) in the UK, 2013

| Product | UK production | Imports | Exports | Apparent consumption | |--------------------------|---------------|---------|---------|----------------------| | **Sawnwood (thousand m(^3))** | | | | | | Coniferous | 3 536 | 5 101 | 146 | 8 491 | | Non-coniferous | 46 | 393 | 19 | 420 | | Total | 3 581 | 5 494 | 164 | 8 911 | | **Wood-based panels** | | | | | | (thousand m(^3)) | | | | | | Veneer sheets | 0 | 24 | 2 | 22 | | Plywood | 0 | 1 374 | 58 | 1 316 | | Particleboard | 2 276 | 790 | 229 | 2 837 | | Fibreboard | 756 | 774 | 143 | 1 388 | | Total | 3 032 | 2 963 | 432 | 5 563 | | **Paper & paperboard** | | | | | | (thousand tonnes) | | | | | | Newsprint | 1 233 | 510 | 333 | 1 410 | | Other graphic papers | 403 | 2 874 | 199 | 3 078 | | Sanitary & household papers | 802 | 370 | 13 | 1 159 | | Packaging materials | 1 851 | 2 043 | 452 | 3 442 | | Other paper & paperboard | 272 | 124 | 123 | 273 | | Total | 4 561 | 5 921 | 1 120 | 9 362 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs).

Notes:

1. Excludes other wood products, e.g. fuelwood and round fencing.

2. Excludes roundwood and intermediate products (e.g. sawmill products, pulp and recovered paper) to avoid double-counting. 3.3 Flow of recovered paper

UK production of recovered paper (the amount recovered from businesses and households in the UK) totalled 7.9 million tonnes in 2013 (Table 3.3). The amount of recovered paper which is exported rose from around 3.1 million tonnes in 2004 to 4.9 million tonnes in 2008, before decreasing to 4.2 million tonnes in 2013. Exports accounted for over one half (54%) of recovered paper produced in the UK in 2013.

Table 3.3 Flow of recovered paper, 2004-2013

| Year | UK production | Imports | Exports | Apparent consumption¹ | |------|---------------|---------|---------|------------------------| | | thousand tonnes | | | thousand tonnes | | 2004 | 7 126 | 87 | 3 127 | 4 085 | | 2005 | 7 718 | 78 | 3 329 | 4 467 | | 2006 | 8 015 | 140 | 3 996 | 4 159 | | 2007 | 8 617 | 88 | 4 749 | 3 956 | | 2008 | 8 768 | 74 | 4 891 | 3 951 | | 2009 | 8 155 | 94 | 4 444 | 3 805 | | 2010 | 8 003 | 115 | 4 388 | 3 730 | | 2011 | 8 036 | 177 | 4 479 | 3 733 | | 2012 | 8 099 | 160 | 4 447 | 3 812 | | 2013 | 7 869 | 184 | 4 248 | 3 805 |

Source: Confederation of Paper Industries, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs).

Notes:

1. Apparent consumption of recovered paper refers to use of recycled paper pulp in the UK. 3.4 UK import quantities by product

Wood imports to the UK in 2013 comprised 5.5 million cubic metres of sawnwood (6% increase from the previous year), 3.0 million cubic metres of wood-based panels (12% increase) and 5.0 million cubic metres of wood pellets (128% increase) (Table 3.4).

A total of 5.9 million tonnes of paper was imported into the UK in 2013, representing a 3% decrease from the 2012 figure of 6.1 million tonnes.

Table 3.4 UK import quantities, 2004-2013

| Year | Sawnwood | Wood-based panels | Wood pellets | Other wood | Paper | Pulp | Recovered paper | Total pulp & paper | |------|----------|-------------------|-------------|------------|-------|------|----------------|-------------------| | 2004 | 8 583 | 4 114 | .. | 1 048 | 7 528 | 1 636| 87 | 9 251 | | 2005 | 8 341 | 3 939 | .. | 1 325 | 7 663 | 1 694| 78 | 9 434 | | 2006 | 7 963 | 3 959 | .. | 1 133 | 7 741 | 1 452| 140 | 9 332 | | 2007 | 8 469 | 3 858 | .. | 1 621 | 7 890 | 1 427| 88 | 9 405 | | 2008 | 5 886 | 3 389 | .. | 1 921 | 7 403 | 1 344| 74 | 8 821 | | 2009 | 5 240 | 2 500 | 66 | 821 | 7 018 | 940 | 94 | 8 052 | | 2010 | 5 699 | 2 701 | 816 | 1 071 | 7 254 | 1 094| 115 | 8 462 | | 2011 | 4 936 | 2 827 | 1 502 | 985 | 6 887 | 1 009| 177 | 8 073 | | 2012 | 5 179 | 2 650 | 2 201 | 965 | 6 119 | 1 021| 160 | 7 300 | | 2013 | 5 494 | 2 963 | 5 015 | 1 234 | 5 921 | 1 100| 184 | 7 205 |

Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations

Notes:

1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter).
2. Included in ‘Other wood’ before 2009.
3. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles and residues. Excludes wood pellets from 2009.

.. Denotes data not available. 3.5 UK export quantities by product

A total of 5.4 million tonnes of pulp and paper (including recovered paper) was exported from the UK in 2013 (table 3.5). This represented a 4% decrease from the previous year.

Table 3.5 UK export quantities, 2004-2013

| Year | Wood (thousand m³) | Pulp and paper (thousand tonnes) | |------|--------------------|----------------------------------| | | Sawnwood | Wood-based panels | Wood pellets² | Other wood³ | Paper | Pulp | Recovered paper | Total pulp & paper | | 2004 | 312 | 519 | .. | 1 294 | 1 557 | 29 | 3 127 | 4 714 | | 2005 | 358 | 520 | .. | 1 186 | 1 164 | 25 | 3 329 | 4 518 | | 2006 | 415 | 510 | .. | 1 214 | 1 002 | 24 | 3 996 | 5 022 | | 2007 | 346 | 599 | .. | 1 353 | 971 | 24 | 4 749 | 5 743 | | 2008 | 222 | 520 | .. | 1 289 | 1 031 | 10 | 4 891 | 5 932 | | 2009 | 203 | 451 | 18 | 657 | 896 | 22 | 4 444 | 5 361 | | 2010 | 195 | 509 | 89 | 1 029 | 926 | 35 | 4 388 | 5 349 | | 2011 | 162 | 546 | 56 | 1 430 | 974 | 32 | 4 479 | 5 485 | | 2012 | 141 | 597 | 79 | 1 778 | 1 143 | 36 | 4 447 | 5 626 | | 2013 | 164 | 432 | 157 | 1 279 | 1 120 | 23 | 4 248 | 5 391 |

Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations

Notes:

1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter).
2. Included in 'Other wood' before 2009.
3. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles and residues. Excludes wood pellets from 2009.

.. Denotes data not available. 3.6 UK import values by product

Wood product imports in 2013 were valued at a total of £6.7 billion, a 5% increase from the level in 2012 (Table 3.6).

Pulp and paper (including recovered paper) comprised around three fifths of the total value of wood product imports in 2013, 18% was sawnwood, 13% wood-based panels and 6% wood pellets.

Table 3.6 UK import values, 2004-2013

| Year | Sawnwood | Wood-based panels | Wood pellets | Other wood | Paper | Pulp | Recovered paper | Total pulp & paper | |------|----------|-------------------|--------------|------------|-------|------|----------------|-------------------| | 2004 | 1 190 | 961 | .. | 95 | 3 520 | 476 | 7 | 4 003 | | 2005 | 1 120 | 918 | .. | 114 | 3 432 | 517 | 5 | 3 954 | | 2006 | 1 144 | 926 | .. | 112 | 3 599 | 548 | 9 | 4 156 | | 2007 | 1 516 | 914 | .. | 128 | 3 741 | 526 | 7 | 4 275 | | 2008 | 1 085 | 873 | .. | 158 | 3 655 | 608 | 10 | 4 273 | | 2009 | 953 | 677 | 7 | 104 | 3 635 | 425 | 11 | 4 071 | | 2010 | 1 199 | 781 | 69 | 110 | 3 997 | 593 | 17 | 4 607 | | 2011 | 1 080 | 838 | 129 | 79 | 4 049 | 613 | 34 | 4 696 | | 2012 | 1 084 | 791 | 185 | 75 | 3 727 | 519 | 21 | 4 266 | | 2013 | 1 179 | 874 | 412 | 87 | 3 644 | 500 | 21 | 4 165 |

Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations

Notes:

1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter).
2. Included in ‘Other wood’ before 2009.
3. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles and residues. Excludes wood pellets from 2009. .. Denotes data not available. 3.7 UK export values by product

Wood product exports from the UK were valued at a total of £1.7 billion in 2013, a decrease of 5% from the 2012 total (Table 3.7). Total exports of wood products in 2013 comprised 89% pulp and paper (mainly paper), 6% wood-based panels, 2% sawnwood and 3% other wood.

Table 3.7 UK export values, 2004-2013

| Year | Sawnwood | Wood-based panels | Wood pellets² | Other wood³ | Paper | Pulp | Recovered paper | Total pulp & paper | |------|----------|-------------------|---------------|-------------|-------|------|-----------------|-------------------| | 2004 | 50 | 95 | .. | 34 | 992 | 7 | 235 | 1 234 | | 2005 | 52 | 102 | .. | 35 | 1 002 | 6 | 278 | 1 286 | | 2006 | 61 | 128 | .. | 37 | 947 | 8 | 329 | 1 284 | | 2007 | 70 | 107 | .. | 40 | 1 013 | 7 | 407 | 1 427 | | 2008 | 50 | 104 | .. | 48 | 1 114 | 3 | 472 | 1 590 | | 2009 | 41 | 104 | 2 | 20 | 1 010 | 10 | 342 | 1 362 | | 2010 | 47 | 113 | 7 | 35 | 1 068 | 18 | 524 | 1 610 | | 2011 | 41 | 128 | 3 | 50 | 1 044 | 11 | 595 | 1 650 | | 2012 | 34 | 130 | 4 | 51 | 1 048 | 10 | 531 | 1 589 | | 2013 | 36 | 109 | 5 | 46 | 1 017 | 8 | 494 | 1 519 |

Source: UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations

Notes:

1. There are reliability concerns for some of these figures, particularly for individual products (see Sources chapter).
2. Included in 'Other wood' before 2009.
3. Includes roundwood, wood charcoal, chips, particles and residues. Excludes wood pellets from 2009.

.. Denotes data not available. 3.8 Origin of wood imports

Table 3.8 presents data on the source of selected wood products that have been imported into the UK in 2013.

The source of imports for these products has remained stable between 2012 and 2013, with the exception of wood pulp (the 2012 figures can be found in Forestry Statistics 2013).

Sawn softwood, particleboard, fibreboard, and paper and paperboard were overwhelmingly imported from EU countries in 2013 (Table 3.8):

- Sweden (46%), Latvia (14%) and Finland (13%) provided the majority of imports of sawn softwood to the UK.
- Most particleboard imports to the UK came from Germany (25%), France (22%) and Ireland (15%).
- Ireland (34%), Germany (24%) and Spain (11%) were the principal sources of fibreboard imports.
- Most paper and paperboard imports came from Germany (19%), Sweden (17%) and Finland (15%).

Sawn hardwood and wood pulp imports originated from a range of both EU and non-EU countries in 2013:

- The USA (22%) were the largest single source of sawn hardwood imports to the UK.
- Sweden (27%) and Brazil (26%) provided the majority of wood pulp imports to the UK. Sweden increased its share by 11 percentage points between 2013 and 2012, while the USA’s share decreased from 17% to 7%.

The vast majority of UK imports of plywood in 2013 came from countries outwith the EU, such as China (42%) and Brazil (15%), while Finland (12%) accounted for the majority of EU trade.

Table 3.8 Country of origin of wood imports to the UK, 2013

| Source | Sawn softwood | Sawn hardwood | Plywood | Particleboard | Fibreboard | Wood pulp | Paper and paperboard | |--------------|---------------|---------------|---------|---------------|------------|-----------|----------------------| | | per cent of total UK imports (volume) in each category | | Sweden | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 17 | | Finland | 13 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 15 | | Germany | 5 | 7 | 0 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 19 | | France | 0 | 9 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 8 | | Italy | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | | Netherlands | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | | Ireland | 8 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 34 | 0 | 1 | | Belgium | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | | Spain | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 2 | | Latvia | 14 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | | Poland | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | | Portugal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 2 | | Estonia | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Other EU-27 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Total EU-27 | 92 | 54 | 21 | 99 | 96 | 53 | 81 | | China | 0 | 1 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | | USA | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | | Brazil | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | | Russia | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Malaysia | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Figure 3.2 shows the main sources of imports of sawn softwood to the UK since 1962. The total level of sawn softwood imports has fluctuated over the period, between around 5 million m³ and 10 million m³. Imports from Canada have reduced since the early 1990s; those from the Baltic States have increased between 1994 and 2003, but have reduced since then. Sweden has consistently been the principal country of origin for UK sawn softwood imports over the past 20 years.

**Figure 3.2 Country of origin of sawn softwood imports to the UK, 1962-2013**

Source: FAO, UK overseas trade statistics (HM Revenue & Customs), industry associations. Introduction

This chapter contains information on:

- carbon in forests;
- the Woodland Carbon Code; and
- public attitudes to forestry and climate change.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK totals. International comparisons of carbon stocks are provided in the International Forestry chapter. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

For information on revisions, see the UK Forests and Climate Change section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all UK Forests and Climate Change tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page.

In addition to the statistics presented here, information on UK forests and climate change is available from "Combating Climate Change - a role for UK forests" (The Read Report), an independent assessment of the science published in November 2009 and available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6umkar.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- The total carbon stock in UK forests has increased from 1990 to 2010 and is projected to increase further by 2015.
- The annual rate of accumulation of carbon in UK forests is forecast to peak around 2030 and is expected to fall steadily afterwards.
- A total of 201 projects were registered under the Woodland Carbon Code at 30 June 2014, covering an area of 15.4 thousand hectares of woodland and projected to sequester 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
- 80% of the UK public agrees with the statement "trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood". 4.1 Carbon cycle

Figure 4.1 shows a forest's contribution to the carbon cycle. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release it through respiration; the difference is new biomass. Some of this biomass is dropped to the forest floor as litter (foliage, deadwood, etc), which in due course decays and is either released back to the atmosphere or becomes part of soil carbon. The remainder accumulates as increment in the forest, mostly as stemwood, branches or roots. A proportion of this accumulated biomass is harvested, for wood products or fuelwood; the rest is a net addition to the biomass stored in the forest.

Figure 4.1 Carbon Cycle 4.2 Forest carbon stock

The total carbon in UK forests has increased from 1990 to 2010 and is projected to increase further by 2015 (Table 4.1). The carbon in forest soils accounts for most (around 75%) of total forest carbon.

Table 4.1 Forest carbon stock

| | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | |--------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Carbon in above-ground biomass | 360 | 471 | 527 | 583 | 639 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass | 129 | 170 | 190 | 210 | 230 | | Carbon in dead wood | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | Carbon in litter | 165 | 175 | 179 | 182 | 187 | | Soil carbon ¹ | 2 366| 2 533| 2 594| 2 629| 2 715| | **Total forest carbon** | **3 029** | **3 359** | **3 500** | **3 614** | **3 781** |

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes

1. Carbon in soil depth 0 to 100 cm.

2. To convert tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) to tonnes carbon (C), multiply by 12/44.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 4.3 Carbon sequestration

In climate change reporting, removals to forestland, also called the forest sink, measures the net annual accumulation of carbon in forests by woody biomass, soils and litter. The annual rate is projected to peak around 2030 at 20 million tonnes CO₂ in total, of which 13 million tonnes CO₂ is projected to accumulate in living biomass (Table 4.2, Figure 4.2). The rate of accumulation is expected to fall steadily after 2030.

Under the Kyoto protocol, additional woodland planted since 1990 contributes to the UK's carbon dioxide emissions target; the rate of accumulation of carbon in these new woodlands continues to increase as woodland continues to be planted.

Reported figures do not include carbon in harvested wood products.

Table 4.2 Net carbon dioxide removals attributed to UK forestry

| Year | In living biomass | Total | of which, due to land afforested since 1990 | emissions due to land deforested since 1990 | |------|------------------|-------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | 1990 | 9.0 | 16.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | | 1995 | 7.8 | 15.6 | 0.4 | -0.2 | | 2000 | 9.5 | 17.1 | 1.0 | -0.8 | | 2005 | 11.0 | 18.7 | 1.7 | -1.1 | | 2010 | 10.3 | 17.8 | 2.6 | -1.0 | | 2015 | 10.7 | 17.3 | 3.5 | -1.3 | | 2020 | 11.6 | 18.3 | 4.4 | -1.0 |

Source: Inventory and projections of UK emissions by sources and removal by sinks due to land use, land use change and forestry, produced by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for input to 2012 final UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Department of Energy & Climate Change, March 2014).

Notes:

1. Net annual accumulation of carbon in forests by woody biomass, soils and litter. Adjusted for losses from deforestation and forest wildfires. Excludes changes in UK harvested wood products.

2. Emissions and sequestration can be presented as tonnes carbon or tonnes carbon dioxide (CO₂). To convert from tonnes CO₂ to tonnes carbon multiply by 12/44.

3. Future predictions of carbon uptake assume that commercial conifer plantations will be replanted when felled, and that planting of new woodland will continue at the same rate as in 2012 (mid projection).

4. The figures shown above differ significantly from those published in Forestry Statistics 2013, due to changes in the data and model used by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. For more information, please see the Sources chapter.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Figure 4.2 Net annual change in carbon (CO₂ equivalent) ¹ in UK woodlands Source: Inventory and projections of UK emissions by sources and removal by sinks due to land use, land use change and forestry, produced by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for input to 2012 UK Greenhouse Gas emissions final figures (Department of Energy & Climate Change, March 2014).

Notes:

1. Net annual accumulation of carbon in forests by woody biomass, soils and litter. Adjusted for losses from deforestation and forest wildfires. Excludes changes in UK harvested wood products.

2. Emissions and sequestration can be presented as tonnes carbon or tonnes carbon dioxide (CO₂). To convert from tonnes CO₂ to tonnes carbon multiply by 12/44.

3. Future predictions of carbon uptake assume that commercial conifer plantations will be replanted when felled, and that planting of new woodland will continue at the same rate as in 2012 (mid projection).

4. The figures shown above differ significantly from those published in Forestry Statistics 2013, due to changes in the data and model used by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. For more information, please see the Sources chapter.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 4.4 Woodland Carbon Code

The Woodland Carbon Code is a voluntary standard, initiated in July 2011, for woodland creation projects that make claims about the carbon they sequester (take out of the atmosphere).

All projects must be placed on the UK Woodland Carbon Registry. Their claims about potential carbon sequestration are validated by an independent certification body. Validated projects are then verified on a regular basis to confirm the progress of carbon sequestration.

Further information on Woodland Carbon Code projects is provided in the Sources chapter and at www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

Table 4.3a provides biannual data on projects registered under the Woodland Carbon Code since September 2011. The table provides information on the number of projects, area of woodland covered by the projects and the total projected carbon sequestration over the lifetime (up to 100 years) of the projects.

A total of 201 projects were registered under the Woodland Carbon Code at 30 June 2014, covering an area of 15.4 thousand hectares of woodland and projected to sequester 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

87 projects had been validated by end June 2014, covering an area of 3.1 thousand hectares and projected to sequester 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Table 4.3a Woodland Carbon Code projects in the UK

| | Validated | Awaiting validation | Total | |--------------------------|-----------|---------------------|--------| | **Number of projects** | | | | | December 2011 | 3 | 36 | 39 | | June 2012 | 17 | 41 | 58 | | December 2012 | 22 | 67 | 89 | | June 2013 | 42 | 91 | 133 | | December 2013 | 63 | 129 | 192 | | June 2014 | 87 | 114 | 201 | | **Area of woodland (hectares)** | | | | | December 2011 | 319 | 1 887 | 2 206 | | June 2012 | 1 098 | 1 684 | 2 782 | | December 2012 | 1 134 | 1 877 | 3 011 | | June 2013 | 2 063 | 12 105 | 14 168 | | December 2013 | 2 503 | 12 679 | 15 183 | | June 2014 | 3 135 | 12 255 | 15 390 | | **Projected carbon sequestration** | | | | | (thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) | | | | | December 2011 | 137 | 791 | 928 | | June 2012 | 474 | 824 | 1 298 | | December 2012 | 500 | 895 | 1 395 | | June 2013 | 951 | 4 204 | 5 154 | | December 2013 | 1 156 | 4 460 | 5 617 | | June 2014 | 1 496 | 4 181 | 5 676 |

Source: Forestry Commission Notes:

1. Figures for carbon sequestration indicate the total projected sequestration of the projects over their lifetime of up to 100 years, and include the amount claimable by a project plus the amount allocated to a shared "buffer" in case of unanticipated losses.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Most of the projects registered under the Woodland Carbon Code at 30 June 2014 were in England (112), 81 were in Scotland, seven in Wales and one in Northern Ireland (Table 4.3b).

Table 4.3b Woodland Carbon Code projects at 30 June 2014

| | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |----------------------|---------|-------|----------|------------------|-----| | **Number of projects** | | | | | | | Validated | 38 | 3 | 46 | 0 | 87 | | Awaiting validation | 74 | 4 | 35 | 1 | 114 | | Total | 112 | 7 | 81 | 1 | 201 | | **Area of woodland (hectares)** | | | | | | | Validated | 861 | 52 | 2 222 | 0 | 3 135 | | Awaiting validation | 1 210 | 179 | 10 858 | 9 | 12 255 | | Total | 2 071 | 231 | 13 080 | 9 | 15 390 | | **Projected carbon sequestration** | | | | | | | (thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) | | | | | | | Validated | 481 | 33 | 982 | 0 | 1 496 | | Awaiting validation | 801 | 84 | 3 292 | 3 | 4 181 | | Total | 1 283 | 116 | 4 274 | 3 | 5 676 |

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes:

1. Figures for carbon sequestration indicate the total projected sequestration of the projects over their lifetime of up to 100 years, and include the amount claimable by a project plus the amount allocated to a shared "buffer" in case of unanticipated losses.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Figure 4.3 Projected carbon sequestration of Woodland Carbon Code projects in the UK

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes:

1. Figures for carbon sequestration indicate the total projected sequestration of the projects over their lifetime of up to 100 years, and include the amount claimable by a project plus the amount allocated to a shared "buffer" in case of unanticipated losses.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 4.5 Public Opinion of Forestry - climate change

The Forestry Commission has conducted similar surveys of public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues every two years since 1995. The most recent set of separate surveys was conducted in 2013 (in Scotland, Wales, and across the UK as a whole) and 2014 (in Northern Ireland). The full results are available on our website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5zyl9w.

Questions were asked to gauge the public’s agreement on climate change issues, including on the ways in which forests and woodlands can impact on climate change. Some of the public views presented below do not reflect expert opinion.

The highest level of agreement was seen with the statement "trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood", with 80% of the UK public agreeing (agree or strongly agree) (Figure 4.4). This compares with only 37% agreeing with the statement "using wood for fuel makes climate change worse because it releases carbon dioxide".

**Figure 4.4 Public opinion on ways in which forests and woodlands can impact on climate change**

| Statement | Percentage of respondents | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------| | Trees are good because they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood | 26 56 9 82 8 | | Planting more trees can help us cope with climate change by providing shade and reducing the effects of flooding | 18 63 13 5 12 8 | | The UK could offset all its greenhouse gas emissions by planting more trees | 11 44 17 12 7 13 | | Cutting down forests and woodlands makes climate change worse, even if they are replanted | 14 41 10 19 2 10 | | Using wood for fuel is better for climate change than using fuels such as coal and gas | 7 37 24 14 2 10 | | Using wood for building is better for climate change than using materials such as concrete and steel | 7 35 20 17 8 15 | | Using wood for fuel makes climate change worse because it releases carbon dioxide | 6 32 25 16 3 17 |

Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2013.

Base: 2,000 UK respondents.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Questions were also posed on how UK forests should be managed in response to the threat of climate change - see the survey reports for further details. 5 Environment

Introduction

This chapter presents a range of information about the woodland environment, mostly using sources that are outside the scope of National Statistics. They are included to provide additional context to the topic.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK or GB totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released.

Statistics on woodland fires are included for the first time in this release.

The statistics on the populations of wild birds (Table 5.1 and Figure 5.1) have been revised since “Forestry Statistics 2013”. For further details on revisions, see the Environment section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all environment tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- Since the early 1990s, the UK woodland bird index has generally been about 20 per cent below the level of the early 1970s, with the decline predominantly in woodland specialist species.
- 80% of the UK public agrees with the statement “action should be taken by authorities and woodland managers to protect trees from damaging pests and diseases”.
- There were around 2,400 woodland fires in 2012-13, burning around 400 hectares of woodland. 5.1 Populations of wild birds

Indices of wild bird populations in the UK are produced annually by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), and cover a range of species that are native to the UK.

The index for woodland birds was expanded in 2007 to cover 38 species, of which 12 are generalists and 26 are woodland specialists (those that breed or feed mainly or solely in woodland).

Since the early 1990s, the UK woodland bird index has generally been about 20 per cent below the level of the early 1970s, with the decline predominantly in woodland specialist species (Table 5.1, Figure 5.1).

Causes for the decline in woodland birds may include a lack of diversity in habitats and food sources, loss of habitats and food sources through damage caused by increasing deer populations, and a reduction in some migratory species following pressures in other parts of the world.

Table 5.1 UK populations of wild birds

| Year | Total breeding birds | Farmland birds | Seabirds | Woodland birds | Woodland generalists | Woodland specialists | |------|----------------------|----------------|----------|----------------|---------------------|---------------------| | | index (year 2000 = 100) | | | | | | | 2003 | 98.3 | 99.1 | 98.0 | 97.9 | 97.8 | 97.8 | | 2004 | 97.2 | 98.1 | 92.2 | 94.4 | 95.8 | 93.5 | | 2005 | 99.1 | 96.9 | 94.9 | 99.4 | 102.4 | 97.8 | | 2006 | 99.8 | 96.0 | 96.6 | 94.8 | 97.0 | 93.7 | | 2007 | 98.1 | 89.8 | 95.2 | 97.8 | 104.8 | 94.5 | | 2008 | 99.8 | 91.8 | 90.0 | 100.2 | 104.5 | 98.3 | | 2009 | 94.7 | 89.2 | 93.2 | 88.2 | 97.4 | 84.1 | | 2010 | 97.5 | 86.5 | 93.7 | 99.3 | 101.4 | 98.1 | | 2011 | 95.5 | 86.1 | 87.9 | 101.3 | 98.7 | 102.4 | | 2012 | 95.4 | 86.6 | 85.7 | 101.6 | 101.8 | 101.3 |

Source: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Notes:

1. Based on data in Wild Bird Populations in the UK statistical release (Defra, October 2013).

Figure 5.1 UK populations of woodland birds

Source: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

Notes:

1. Based on data in Wild Bird Populations in the UK statistical release (Defra, October 2013). 5.2 Woodland vegetation

The Countryside Survey carried out by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, reports for a wide range of habitats, including conifer and broadleaved woodland. Results for 2007 show some declines in species richness (Table 5.2). Data for Scotland show significant declines in species richness since 1998, in both broadleaved and conifer woodlands. No other changes in species richness since 1998 are statistically significant, but Wales and GB total show significant declines in species richness for broadleaves over the longer period since 1990.

The Ellenberg N fertility score has declined significantly over the longer period since 1990 for broadleaves in Scotland. There are no other significant changes in Ellenberg fertility and light scores.

Please refer to the Countryside Survey website (see Sources) for an explanation of the vegetation richness and condition scores.

Table 5.2 Vegetation richness and condition scores

| | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |----------------------|---------|-------|----------|-----| | **Species richness** | | | | | | Broadleaved | | | | | | 1990 | 20.8 | 25.8 | 25.3 | 22.6| | 1998 | 18.9 | 22.8 | 26.9 | 21.3| | 2007 | 20.1 | 21.6 | 22.1 | 20.9| | Conifer | | | | | | 1990 | 16.0 | 12.2 | 14.2 | 14.5| | 1998 | 14.2 | 15.7 | 15.6 | 15.3| | 2007 | 14.9 | 13.9 | 13.7 | 14.1| | **Ellenberg light score** | | | | | | Broadleaved | | | | | | 1990 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.2 | | 1998 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.1 | | 2007 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.1 | | Conifer | | | | | | 1990 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.2 | | 1998 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.4 | 6.2 | | 2007 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.2 | | **Ellenberg N fertility score** | | | | | | Broadleaved | | | | | | 1990 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.1 | | 1998 | 5.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 5.1 | | 2007 | 5.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 5.1 | | Conifer | | | | | | 1990 | 4.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.8 | | 1998 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.9 | | 2007 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 |

Source: Countryside Survey data (C) NERC - Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Notes:

1. Higher scores indicate more species, and higher levels of light and fertility.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 5.3 Public Opinion of Forestry - tree health

The Forestry Commission has conducted similar surveys of public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues every two years since 1995. The most recent surveys were conducted in 2013 (with separate surveys in Scotland, Wales, and across the UK as a whole) and in 2014 (in Northern Ireland). The full results are available within the 2013 and 2014 Public Opinion of Forestry reports available on our website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5zyl9w.

Questions were asked in the 2013 and 2014 surveys, for the first time, to gauge the public's views on tree health issues.

The highest level of agreement was seen with the statement "action should be taken by authorities and woodland managers to protect trees from damaging pests and diseases", with 80% of UK respondents in 2013 agreeing (agree or strongly agree) (Figure 5.2). This compares with only 22% agreeing with the statement "there is very little that anyone can do to prevent the spread of damaging tree pests and diseases".

**Figure 5.2 Public opinion on tree health**

Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2013.

Base: 2,000 UK respondents.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 5.4 Woodland Fires

The Department for Communities and Local Government produces estimates of the number and area of wildfires each year, using data recorded by Fire and Rescue Services using the Incident Reporting System. By analysing the wildfire data with the National Forest Inventory woodland map, it has been possible to produce estimates of fires that occur within woodlands in Great Britain.

Table 5.3a shows the number of woodland fires in 2010-11 to 2012-13. There has been some fluctuation in the number of woodland fires in Great Britain over this period, with a high of almost 9 thousand fires in 2011-12 and a low of around 2,400 in 2012-13. Most fires occurred in England.

The total number of woodland fires in Great Britain in 2012-13 (around 2,400) represents 2% of the total of around 119,700 outdoor fires in Great Britain in 2012-13 (Fire Statistics: Great Britain April 2012 to March 2013, Department for Communities and Local Government, May 2014).

Table 5.3a Number of woodland fires

| Financial year | England | Wales | Scotland | GB | |----------------|---------|-------|----------|----| | 2010-11 | 5 993 | 612 | 1 166 | 7 771 | | 2011-12 | 7 332 | 610 | 1 050 | 8 992 | | 2012-13 | 1 786 | 174 | 479 | 2 439 |

Source: Incident Recording System (Department for Communities and Local Government), National Forest Inventory

Table 5.3b shows the area covered by woodland fires between 2010-11 and 2012-13. There was a peak of over 8,800 hectares burnt in 2011-12, with the vast majority of this area occurring in Scotland.

Around 400 hectares of woodland in Great Britain were burnt in 2012-13.

Table 5.3b Area of woodland fires

| Financial year | England | Wales | Scotland | GB hectares | |----------------|---------|-------|----------|-------------| | 2010-11 | 980 | 166 | 127 | 1 274 | | 2011-12 | 464 | 417 | 7 966 | 8 847 | | 2012-13 | 47 | 107 | 268 | 422 |

Source: Incident Recording System (Department for Communities and Local Government), National Forest Inventory 6 Recreation

Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on:

- the number and profile of visits to all woodlands from household surveys;
- the number and profile of visits to Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service woodlands from on-site surveys and administrative sources; and
- public access to woodland.

Geographical coverage for recreation statistics varies. Estimates are presented at country level and, where possible, UK or GB totals are included. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by other organisations. The latest year figures for day visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland and for Woods for People are published for the first time in this release. Figures for earlier years have not been revised from those previously published. For further details on revisions, see the Recreation section of the Sources chapter.

Further information on the advantages and disadvantages of household surveys and of on-site surveys is provided in the Recreation section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all recreation tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- There were an estimated 357 million visits to woodland in England in 2012-13. Walking with a dog was the most commonly reported activity, undertaken on around two thirds of visits in England. (Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment 2012-13)
- There were an estimated 90 million visits to woodland in Scotland in 2013. 63% of the Scottish population had visited woodland in the previous 12 months. (Scotland's People and Nature Survey 2013)
- There were an estimated 86 million visits to woodland in Wales in 2011. Walking was the main activity undertaken on around two thirds of visits in Wales. (Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2011)
- Around two thirds of the UK population have visited woodland in the last few years. (UK Public Opinion of Forestry Survey 2013).
- Around 4.3 million visits are made annually to Welsh Government woodlands in Wales and around 9.1 million visits are made annually to Forestry Commission Scotland woodlands. (All Forests Surveys)
- Around 364 thousand people visited Forest Service sites where a charge is made in Northern Ireland in 2013-14.
- Around one half (50%) of the UK woodland area was estimated to be publicly accessible in 2013. (Woods for People) 6.1 Visits to woodland - household surveys

The information shown below in Table 6.1 has been obtained from the following general population household surveys.

- UK Day Visits Surveys (1994, 1996, 1998)
- GB Day Visits Survey (2002/3)
- Scottish Recreation Survey (2004 to 2012)
- England Leisure Visits Survey (2005)
- Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey (2008, 2011)
- Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (England, 2009-10 onwards)
- Scotland’s People and Nature Survey (2013)

It is likely that differences in survey design and methodology have contributed to a considerable proportion of the differences in results between these surveys. The figures in Table 6.1 should not be interpreted as time trends but instead as separate results from each survey. Further information on the differences between surveys is provided in the Recreation section of the Sources chapter.

In common with all sample based surveys, the results from each survey are subject to the effects of chance, depending on the particular survey method used and the sample achieved, thus confidence limits apply to all results from these surveys.

Results from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment 2012-13 estimate a total of 357 million visits to woodlands in England (Table 6.1). This is not significantly different from the 2011-12 figure.

The Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2011 estimates a total of 86 million visits to woodlands in Wales. This is a statistically significant increase from the estimated total of 64 million in 2008.

Scotland’s People and Nature Survey 2013 reports an estimated total of 90 million visits to woodlands in Scotland. This is a statistically significant increase from the 2012 estimate of 62 million visits from the Scottish Recreation Survey. This increase is partly the result of applying a new population estimate in the calculation of total visits for 2013.

Table 6.1 Number of visits to woodland

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | GB million visits | |------|---------|-------|----------|------------------| | 1994 | 273 | 12 | 18 | 303 | | 1996 | 308 | 11 | 26 | 346 | | 1998 | 321 | 11 | 22 | 355 | | 2002 | 222 | 12 | 18 | 252 | | 2004 | .. | .. | 70 | .. | | 2005 | 170 | .. | 62 | .. | | 2006 | .. | .. | 76 | .. | | 2007 | .. | .. | 72 | .. | | 2008 | .. | 64 | 62 | .. | | 2009 | 317 | .. | 57 | .. | | 2010 | 326 | .. | 63 | .. | | 2011 | 358 | 86 | 65 | .. | | 2012 | 357 | .. | 62 | .. | | 2013 | .. | .. | 90 | .. | Sources:

1994, 1996, 1998: UK Day Visit Surveys, carried out by National Centre for Social Research (not available online);

2002: GB Day Visits Survey 2002-03, carried out by TNS Travel & Tourism;

England 2005: England Leisure Visits Survey (ELVS), carried out by Research International;

England 2009 on: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), carried out by TNS;

Wales 2008, 2011: Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey carried out by IPSOS-MORI (2008) and by TNS (2011);

Scotland 2004 - 2012: Scottish Recreation Survey (ScRS), carried out by TNS;

Scotland 2013: Scotland's People and Nature Survey (SPANs), carried out by TNS.

Notes:

1. The UK and GB Day Visits Surveys collected data about day trips from home, for all countries of GB. The 1994, 1996 and 1998 surveys covered calendar years; the 2002-03 survey covered a 12-month period starting in March 2002.

2. ELVS and MENE covered trips taken in England, including those from holiday bases, by respondents living in England. ELVS ran for 12 months from February 2005. MENE results relate to 12 month periods from March to February.

3. The Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey totals shown are for trips with woodland as the main destination.

4. The Scottish Recreation Survey ran from July 2003 until December 2012. It was replaced by Scotland's People and Nature Survey that ran from March 2013 to February 2014. Both surveys covered visits to the outdoors for leisure and recreation in Scotland by people living in Scotland. The total shown is for all trips that included a visit to woodland.

5. In each survey, visits to overseas destinations are excluded.

.. Denotes data not available.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.1.1 England

Household surveys in England

In March 2009 fieldwork commenced on the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) survey, which includes collecting information on visits to the outdoors in England. The survey is now expected to run for 6 years. Further information on the survey, including copies of annual reports and online data viewers to access more detailed results, is available from the Natural England website at www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/research/mene.aspx

Table 6.2 shows the main characteristics of visits to woodlands. Around two thirds of visits to woodland involved walking with a dog and around one fifth involved other walking. Walking was the main mode of transport for around two thirds of visits to woodland. Around three fifths of visits to woodland were within 2 miles.

Table 6.2 Woodland visit characteristics(^1) - England 2009-10 to 2012-13

| Activities on trip (multi response) | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | Walking with a dog | 66 | 68 | 70 | 67 | | Other walking | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | | Wildlife watching | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Playing with children | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | | Eat/ drink out | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | | Visiting an attraction | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | Off road cycling or mountain biking| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | Road cycling | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |

| Main mode of transport | | | | | |------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | On foot | 61 | 62 | 65 | 65 | | Car/ van | 35 | 34 | 32 | 31 | | Bicycle | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |

| Distance travelled (one way) | | | | | |------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | Less than 1 mile | 38 | 36 | 30 | 31 | | 1 to 2 miles | 25 | 27 | 32 | 29 | | 3 to 5 miles | 19 | 19 | 22 | 23 | | 6 to 10 miles | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | | Over 10 miles | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 |

| Duration of visit (round trip) | | | | | |------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | Up to 1 hour | 26 | 23 | 28 | .. | | 1 - less than 2 hours | 42 | 44 | 41 | .. | | 2 - less than 3 hours | 15 | 16 | 15 | .. | | 3 hours or more | 17 | 17 | 16 | .. |

Source: Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE), carried out by TNS, for Natural England, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Forestry Commission.

Notes:

1. All trips that included a visit to woodland.

.. Denotes data not available. These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.1.2 Scotland

Household surveys in Scotland

Scotland's People and Nature Survey (SPANS), which measures and collects details about the Scottish adult population's participation in outdoor recreation in Scotland, ran from March 2013 until February 2014, with 1,000 adults interviewed in their home each month. The survey, which replaced the previous Scottish Recreation Survey (ScRS), is expected to run every 3 years.

Further information on SPANS and the ScRS, including copies of annual reports and online data viewers to access more detailed results, is available from the Scottish Natural Heritage website at www.snh.gov.uk/land-and-sea/managing-recreation-and-access/increasing-participation/measuring-participation/

Table 6.3 shows the frequency of visits to woodland by the Scottish adult population in the previous 12 months.

63% of respondents had visited woodland at least once in the previous year. This compares with results from the Scotland Public Opinion of Forestry Survey (table 6.5), showing that 76% of respondents to the 2013 survey had visited woodland in the last few years.

Around one third (34%) of respondents had visited woodland at least once a month in the previous 12 months.

Table 6.3 Frequency of visits to woodland(^1) - Scotland

| Frequency | 2013-14 per cent of respondents | |----------------------------|---------------------------------| | At least once a week | 18 | | Once or twice a month | 16 | | Once every 2-3 months | 13 | | Once or twice | 16 | | Never | 37 | | **Total** | **100** |

Source: Scotland's People and Nature Survey, carried out by TNS, for Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, National Park authorities and Greenspace Scotland.

Base: 6,042 respondents.

Note:

1. All trips that include a visit to woodland.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 6.1.3 Wales

Household surveys in Wales

Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) [both part of Natural Resources Wales from 1 April 2013] commissioned a Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey (WORS) in 2008 and 2011. The survey provides data on Welsh residents' participation in informal outdoor activities and visits to the outdoors, including woodland. Further information on the survey, including copies of reports and data tables, is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8WAKt3

Table 6.4 shows the main characteristics of recreation visits where the main destination of visit was woodland, from the Welsh Outdoor Recreation Surveys for 2008 and 2011. Walking was reported as the main activity in around two thirds of visits to woodland. Car or van was the main mode of transport for around three fifths of visits to woodland. Around one half of visits to woodland were within 1 mile and around two fifths were for less than two hours. Respondents were accompanied by a dog in around one half of visits to woodland in 2011.

Table 6.4 Woodland visit characteristics1- Wales, 2008, 2011

| Woodland visit characteristics | 2008 | 2011 | |-------------------------------|------|------| | **Main activity during visit** | | | | Walking | 68 | 68 | | Off road cycling, mountain biking | 8 | 7 | | Horse riding | 4 | 4 | | Running | 4 | 7 | | Sightseeing or visiting an attraction | 4 | 3 | | **Main transport** | | | | Car/ van | 47 | 57 | | On foot | 43 | 37 | | Bicycle/ mountain bike | 7 | 1 | | **Distance travelled (one way)** | | | | 0 distance, up to 1 mile | 44 | 48 | | Over 1 mile, up to 5 miles | 26 | 30 | | Over 5 miles, up to 20 miles | 18 | 14 | | Over 20 miles | 12 | 8 | | **Duration of visit (round trip)** | | | | Up to 1 hour | 10 | 8 | | Over 1 hour, up to 2 hours | 29 | 34 | | Over 2 hours, up to 3 hours | 25 | 21 | | 3 hours or more | 36 | 37 | | **Accompanied by a dog** | 60 | 53 |

Source: Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2008, carried out by Ipsos-MORI, and Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2011, carried out by TNS, for Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Forestry Commission Wales.

Notes:

1. Visits where the main destination was woodland.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.1.4 Public Opinion of Forestry Survey - woodland visitors

The Public Opinion of Forestry Survey is carried out every two years and obtains people's attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues, including visits to woodland. Copies of reports and detailed data tables are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5zy9w

The results shown in Tables 6.5 and 6.6 and Figure 6.1 have been taken from the UK and country reports on the latest surveys in 2013 and 2014, and from surveys in earlier years. The reports also include other recreation-related results, such as whether the woodlands visited were in towns or the countryside and any reasons given by survey respondents for not visiting woodlands.

In the UK 2013 survey, around two thirds (66%) of respondents said that they had visited woodland in the last few years for walks, picnics or other recreation (Table 6.5).

Table 6.5 Woodland visitors

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK | |------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|----| | | per cent of respondents | | | | | | 2003 | 66 | 62 | 64 | 77 | 67 | | 2005 | 65 | 69 | 50 | 67 | 65 | | 2007 | 76 | 79 | 75 | 62 | 77 | | 2009 | 77 | .. | 57 | .. | 77 | | 2010 | .. | .. | .. | 72 | .. | | 2011 | 68 | 68 | 75 | .. | 67 | | 2013 | 65 | 64 | 76 | .. | 66 | | 2014 | .. | .. | .. | 75 | .. |

Source: UK/GB, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys

Base: UK/GB = 4,000 respondents (2003, 2005, 2007), 2,000 respondents (2009, 2011, 2013); Scotland and Wales = 1,000 respondents each; Northern Ireland = 120 respondents (2003), 1,000 respondents (2005, 2007, 2010, 2014).

Notes:

1. Those stating that they had visited woodland in the last few years.

.. Denotes data not available (survey not run that year or question not asked)

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Survey respondents were asked how frequently they had visited during the previous summer and winter. Figure 6.1, which presents aggregated UK results for the 2009 to 2013 surveys, shows that respondents visited much more often during the summer, with around one half of respondents (47%) visiting at least once a month in the summer compared to around one quarter (27%) in the winter.

Figure 6.1 Frequency of visits to woodlands Source: UK Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys, 2009 to 2013.

Base: Average visit frequencies from last three UK surveys: 2,000 respondents per survey.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. In the UK 2013 Public Opinion of Forestry survey, around three quarters (75%) of respondents aged 35 to 54 said that they had visited woodland in the last few years for walks, picnics or other recreation (Table 6.6). This compares with around three fifths (62%) of respondents aged 16 to 34 and three fifths (60%) of respondents aged 55 or over.

Table 6.6 Woodland visitors(^1) by age group

| Year | Aged 16 to 34 | Aged 35 to 54 | Aged 55 and over | Total per cent of respondents | |------|---------------|---------------|------------------|------------------------------| | 1999 | 73 | 74 | 55 | 67 | | 2001 | 75 | 77 | 63 | 72 | | 2003 | 71 | 72 | 60 | 67 | | 2005 | 66 | 74 | 56 | 65 | | 2007 | 79 | 82 | 69 | 77 | | 2009 | 78 | 84 | 69 | 77 | | 2011 | 65 | 74 | 63 | 67 | | 2013 | 62 | 75 | 60 | 66 |

Source: UK and GB Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys, 1999 to 2013.

Base: 2,000 respondents (1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2013); 4,000 respondents (2003, 2005, 2007).

Notes:

1. Those stating they had visited woodland in the last few years.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 6.2 Visits to woodland - on-site surveys

The previous section provided information on visits to all woodlands (regardless of ownership), based on data from household surveys. This section provides information on visits to Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service woodland only, based on data from on-site surveys and administrative sources.

Until 2002, a visitor monitoring programme (not National Statistics) was carried out at selected Forestry Commission woodland sites in England, Scotland and Wales. Year-on-year changes in visitor numbers were estimated by the "Trends Index" which used data from traffic counters and other counters. Information about visitors and their views on facilities were collected by on-site visitor surveys.

In 2002 and 2003, the Forestry Commission developed new visitor monitoring systems to replace the existing national visitor monitoring programme. The "All Forests Visitor Monitoring Survey" provides more accurate estimates of the number of visits to a wider range of Forestry Commission woodland, while continuing to gather information on the profile of visitors. Further information, including reports, on the All Forests Monitoring Surveys is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5wcmr4

In addition, an on-site survey methodology to measure visitor's "Quality of Experience" at selected sites was adopted in England in 2004 and in Wales in 2006. Copies of reports from the Quality of Experience surveys undertaken are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5wwjpt

Although neither of these methods have been used in Northern Ireland, the Forest Service do collect information on the total number of paying visitors. 6.2.1 Wales All Forests Survey

On-site surveys - Wales All Forests survey

The Wales All Forests Survey was undertaken over a one year period. Surveying took place from January 2004 to January 2005 with over 1,200 hours of fieldwork undertaken during 285 days. During this period, 765 face to face interviews were conducted. The study estimated that around 4.3 million visits are made annually to Welsh Government (WG) woodland in Wales.

At a national level, the surveyed sites are representative of the range of facilities and activities available in WG woodland, but this is not always the case at a district level. Approximately one fifth of each district’s forests were included in the survey.

Table 6.7 provides a summary of the key results obtained from the Wales All Forests survey. Around four fifths of visitors to Welsh Government woodland were on a day trip from home. Walking (with or without a dog) was the main activity undertaken by around three quarters of visitors. Around four fifths travelled to the site by car or van and around one third travelled more than 15 miles to get to the site. Most visitors were on short trips, with over one half spending one hour or less in the forest. Over one half of respondents visited the site at least monthly. Around one quarter considered the forest and its facilities to be the only reason for visiting the area and a further two fifths reported that it was very important in their decision to visit. Over one third of respondents visited the site alone.

Table 6.7 Woodland visit characteristics - Wales All Forests Survey

| Woodland visit characteristics | 2004 per cent of respondents | |-------------------------------|-----------------------------| | **Type of trip** | | | Day trip | 81 | | Overnight trip | 19 | | **Main activity during visit**| | | Dog walking | 40 | | Other walking | 32 | | Cycling | 12 | | **Main transport** | | | Car / van | 81 | | Walked | 12 | | Cycled | 3 | | **Distance travelled (one-way)**| | | Less than 6 miles | 46 | | 6 to 15 miles | 22 | | 16 to 25 miles | 13 | | Over 25 miles | 19 | | **Duration of visit (time spent in forest)**| | | Up to 1 hour | 55 | | Over 1 hour, up to 2 hours | 27 | | Over 2 hours, up to 3 hours | 8 | | Over 3 hours | 10 | | **Frequency of visit to site of interview**| | | More than once a day | 6 | | Once a day | 10 | | Frequency of Visits | Count | |--------------------|-------| | 1 to 3 times per week | 23 | | 1 to 3 times per month | 16 | | 1 to 3 times per year | 19 | | Less often | 7 | | First ever visit | 19 |

**Importance of forest and facilities in decision to visit area**

| Importance Level | Count | |------------------|-------| | Only reason for coming | 26 | | Very important | 39 | | Quite important | 17 |

**Group composition**

| Group Type | Count | |------------|-------| | Alone | 37 | | Couples / groups of two | 42 | | Groups of three or more | 20 |

Source: Wales All Forests Survey 2004, carried out by TNS.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 6.2.2 Scotland All Forests Survey

On site surveys - Scotland All Forests surveys

All Forests surveying in Scotland has been undertaken on two occasions. The first All Forests Survey in Scotland was carried out across a three-year period from June 2004 to June 2007, with over 5,000 hours of fieldwork undertaken over 1,158 days, achieving almost 2,700 face to face interviews. The study estimated that around 8.2 million visits are made annually to Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) woodland. An estimated 150-200 thousand visits to events in forests and around 300 thousand visits during the hours of darkness (when fieldwork was not undertaken) were also made, giving an overall total of around 8.7 million visits per year.

The second All Forests Survey was carried out from November 2012 to October 2013. The survey made greater use of data from automatic counters, but also achieved over 400 days of fieldwork and 1,970 face-to-face interviews.

The 2012-13 survey estimated an annual total of 9.1 million visits (including visits to events and in the hours of darkness) to Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) woodland. This represents a 5% increase on the estimated overall total of 8.7 million visits from the 2004-2007 survey.

Table 6.8 provides a summary of the key characteristics and results obtained from the Scotland All Forests surveys and appears to show some change in visit characteristics over time, with a general trend towards longer, more distant and less frequent visits. From the 2012-13 survey, around two thirds of visitors to Forestry Commission Scotland woodlands were on a day trip from home. Walking (with or without a dog) was the main activity undertaken by around three quarters of visitors. Over four fifths travelled to the site by car or van and around one third travelled more than 15 miles to get to the site. Around one third of visitors were on short trips, spending one hour or less in the forest. Around one half of respondents visited the site at least monthly.

| Woodland visit characteristics | 2004-2007 | 2012-13 | |-------------------------------|-----------|---------| | **Type of trip** | | | | Day trip | 82 | 67 | | Overnight trip | 18 | 33 | | **Main activity during visit**| | | | Dog walking | 50 | 43 | | Other walking | 29 | 29 | | Cycling | 11 | 8 | | **Main transport** | | | | Car / van | 78 | 85 | | Walked | 18 | 11 | | Cycled | 2 | 2 | | **Distance travelled (one way)**| | | | Less than 6 miles | 58 | 43 | | 6 to 15 miles | 19 | 25 | | 16 to 25 miles | 10 | 12 | | Over 25 miles | 12 | 20 | | **Duration of visit (time spent in forest)** | | | | Up to 1 hour | 59 | 35 | | Over 1 hour, up to 2 hours | 24 | 36 | | Over 2 hours, up to 3 hours | 10 | 16 | | Frequency of visit to site of interview | 7 | 13 | |----------------------------------------|---|----| | More than once a day | 7 | 3 | | Once a day | 13| 9 | | 1 to 3 times per week | 25| 22 | | 1 to 3 times per month | 17| 14 | | 1 to 3 times per year | 17| 18 | | Less often | 5 | 7 | | First ever visit | 16| 27 |

Source: Scotland All Forests Survey 2004-2007 and All Forests Survey 2, carried out by TNS.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.2.3 Quality of Experience

On-site surveys - Quality of Experience

An on-site survey methodology was developed early in 2003 to measure visitors' "Quality of Experience". Pilot surveys were conducted in 2003 at Afan Argoed and the New Forest, prior to adoption of the methodology in England in 2003 and in Wales in 2006, with around three to five surveys carried out per year at selected sites between 2003 and 2009 and up to 20 surveys carried out between 2010 and 2012. The current programme, running from 2013 to 2015, is covering 7 sites in England and 7 sites in Wales each year. Reports from these surveys are published on the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5wwjpt when results become available.

These studies were designed to investigate what constitutes quality of experience for visitors, addressing related concepts such as motivations, expectations and the needs of different groups.

For the 2003 to 2009 surveys, visitors who used a particular site at least once a month were interviewed and asked to rate both the levels of importance of different aspects of woodland and forest visits and their satisfaction with these aspects. Respondents who visited less often were interviewed for a shorter period before being given a questionnaire to take away and return regarding their levels of satisfaction.

For the 2010 to 2013 surveys, all visitors were surveyed on site.

Table 6.9 lists the sites where Quality of Experience surveys have taken place.

| Year | England | Wales | |------|---------|-------| | 2003 | Grizedale, Westonbirt, Whiston | - | | 2004 | Dalby, Thetford | - | | 2005 | Alice Holt, Cannock Chase, Forest of Dean | - | | 2006 | Sherwood Pines, Delamere, Hamsterley | Garwnant, Nant yr Arian | | 2007 | Fineshade, Rosliston, Whinlatter | Coed y Brenin | | 2008 | Bedgebury, Thetford, Wyre | Cwmcarn | | 2009 | Kielder, Dalby, Haldon | - | | 2010 | Hamsterley, Whinlatter, Grizedale, Cannock Chase, Sherwood Pines, Salcey, Wendover, Alice Holt, Westonbirt, Beechenhurst | Coed y Brenin, Newborough, Garwnant, Gwydyr, Whitestone, Hafren, Moel Famau, Gethin, Llan Wynno, Cwm Saebran | | 2011 | Bedgebury, Delamere, Fineshade Top Lodge, High Lodge Thetford, Wyre | Cwmcarn, Nant yr arian, Alwen, Brechfa, Clocaenog, Crychan, Dyfnant | | 2012 | Dalby, Haldon, Kielder, Rosliston and Hicks Lodge | Abergynolwyn, Craig y Dinas, Cwm Rhaeadr, Forest Fawr, Gwaun Hepste, Hafod, Llangwyfan, Nercwys, Tan y Coed, The Arch, Warren | | 2013 | Alice Holt, Cannock Chase, Cardinham Woods, Grizedale, Sherwood Pines, Wendover Woods, Westonbirt | Afan, Brechfa, Cwmcarn Forest Drive¹, Gwydyr, Hafren, Moel Famau, Newborough, Whitestone |

Source: Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales Quality of Experience surveys. 2003-2009 carried out by TNS Travel & Tourism, 2010-2012 carried out by BMG Research, 2013 carried out by Beaufort Research.

Notes:

1. The survey at Cwmcarn Forest Drive was carried out in addition to the main programme of 14 sites in 2013.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. In addition, surveys have been conducted around community forests in Thames Chase (2004), South Yorkshire (2005), North West England (2006), South Wales (2006), South West England (2007) and North & Mid Wales (2007). These surveys examine the recreation activities undertaken by members of the local community, levels of recreational use, awareness of local open spaces, and the motivations and barriers to using Forestry Commission sites for recreation.

In 2011, 3 surveys of residents were undertaken in the areas surrounding three low usage sites, to obtain information on how greater usage of the sites could be encouraged. 6.2.4 Northern Ireland Forest Service day visitors

Day visitors to Northern Ireland Forest Service sites

Information on visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland is provided by the Forest Service and relates only to sites where an admission charge is made.

In Northern Ireland in 2013-14, 364 thousand people visited those Forest Service sites where an admission charge was made (Table 6.10). This represented a 7% increase from the previous year, but remains below the level of earlier years.

Table 6.10 Day visitors to Northern Ireland Forest Service sites

| Year | Visitors to Forest Service sites (thousands) | |----------|---------------------------------------------| | 2004-05 | 508 | | 2005-06 | 433 | | 2006-07 | 410 | | 2007-08 | 518 | | 2008-09 | 451 | | 2009-10 | 473 | | 2010-11 | 468 | | 2011-12 | 430 | | 2012-13 | 340 | | 2013-14 | 364 |

Source: Forest Service

Notes:

1. Number of people visiting sites where an admission charge was made, excluding campers.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.3 Public access to woodland

The Woods for People project (led by the Woodland Trust) has created a UK-wide provisional inventory of accessible woodland.

As a result of the information gathered on accessible woodland, the Woodland Trust has undertaken a major analysis of woodland access provision and deficit across the UK. This project, named Space for People, has used the accessible woodland data from the Woods for People project to develop targets for increasing woodland access.

Further information on the Woodland Trust is available at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk 6.3.1 Woods for People

Woods for People

The Woods for People project has created a UK-wide provisional inventory of accessible woodland.

At present, it does not include woodlands where the only access is on public rights of way. For Scotland, the Land Reform Act gives a right of responsible access to almost all land, but the dataset only includes woods that encourage access. Table 6.11 shows the proportions of woodland with public access (permissive) as identified by the Woods for People database.

The changes between versions of the dataset (2004 to 2013) are the result of several factors, including the development of the database between versions as areas are updated by land owners; one significant change was a reduction in England and Wales as a result of a fall in the amount of Walkers Welcome data. More recently, the exclusion of areas where access is constrained in England has led to a decrease in accessible woodland in 2011.

Around one half (50%) of the UK woodland area was identified as being publicly accessible in 2013 (Table 6.11).

Table 6.11 Woods for People: Publicly accessible woodland

| Year | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK per cent of all woodland area¹ | |------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|----------------------------------| | 2004² | 37 | 49 | 57 | 66 | 49 | | 2006 | 32 | 39 | 58 | 64 | 46 | | 2007 | 34 | 40 | 58 | 64 | 47 | | 2008 | 34 | 40 | 58 | 64 | 48 | | 2009 | 37 | 42 | 59 | 64 | 49 | | 2010 | 39 | 42 | 59 | 64 | 50 | | 2011 | 35 | 42 | 58 | 65 | 48 | | 2012 | 36 | 43 | 58 | 66 | 49 | | 2013 | 38 | 43 | 58 | 66 | 50 |

Source: Woods for People (Woodland Trust)

Notes:

1. The total woodland area estimated in 2004 for the Woods for People project, not updated for later reports. For Northern Ireland, this is substantially different from the area shown elsewhere in Forestry Statistics for 2004 to 2011.

2. The 2004 data are from version 1 of the Woods for People project, re-analysed in September 2007 to count only woodland areas. The higher results originally presented in the 2004 Woodland Trust Spaces for People report were based in part on total land areas, rather than woodland areas.

3. Data for 2006 to 2013 are from versions 3 to 10 of the Woods for People dataset, based on woodland areas.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 6.3.2 Space for People

Space for People

As a result of the information gathered on accessible woodland, the Woodland Trust has undertaken a major analysis of woodland access provision and deficit across the UK. This project, named "Space for People", has used the accessible woodland data from the Woods for People project to develop targets for increasing woodland access.

The Space for People analysis proposes a Woodland Access Standard for people to have access to a woodland of an adequate size near to where they live. The report estimates the proportion of the population with access to nearby woods, the extent to which this could be increased by improving access and the amount of new woodland that would have to be created to give the rest of the population this level of access. Two full reports have been published so far, giving data for 2004 and 2009; these are available at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk.

The most recent data suggests that around one sixth of the UK population live within 500 metres of a wood of 2 hectares or more and that almost two thirds live within 4 kilometres of a larger wood (of 20 hectares or more) (Table 6.12).

Table 6.12 Space for People: Publicly accessible woodland

| % of population with access to: | England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | UK per cent | |---------------------------------|---------|-------|----------|-----------------|-------------| | 2 ha or more wood within 500 metres | | | | | | | 2004 | 10.2 | 15.7 | 15.3 | 7.5 | 10.8 | | 2009 | 14.5 | 17.4 | 27.8 | 7.2 | 15.6 | | 20 ha or more wood within 4 km | | | | | | | 2004 | 55.2 | 72.3 | 54.4 | 50.3 | 55.8 | | 2009 | 63.0 | 76.7 | 83.0 | 40.2 | 64.8 |

Source: Space for People summary report (Woodland Trust, 2010).

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 7 Employment & Businesses

Introduction

This chapter contains information on:

- employment in forestry and wood processing;
- health & safety; and
- numbers of businesses.

All of the statistics presented in this chapter relate to UK totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. Some of the figures on employment (Tables 7.1 and 7.2), on health and safety (Table 7.3 and Figure 7.1) and on establishments in primary wood processing industries (Table 7.4) have been revised since Forestry Statistics 2013. For further details on revisions, see the Employment section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all Employment & Businesses tables is available to download from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- The Annual Business Survey reported average employment in 2012 of 15 thousand in forestry and 26 thousand in primary wood processing.
- There was estimated to be a total of 7.3 thousand full time equivalent staff employed by primary wood processors in the UK in 2013, a 1% increase on the total for 2012.
- Accident rates in forestry and wood products have tended to decline in recent years, but are still higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively.
- There were 247 establishments in the primary wood processing industries in the UK using UK-grown roundwood in 2013. 7.1 Employment: Annual Business Survey (ABS)

The Annual Business Survey (ABS), formerly the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) includes statistics on employment broken down by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007). In wood processing, SIC 16 (wood products) and SIC 17 (pulp, paper and paper products) have a much wider scope than the data on employment in primary wood processing (Table 7.2), as they include primary processing of imported material and also some secondary processing.

The Annual Business Survey recorded average employment in 2012 of 15 thousand in forestry and 26 thousand in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) (Table 7.1).

Table 7.1 Employment in forestry and wood processing², 2008-2012

| Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)¹ | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |-----------------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Forestry | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | | Wood products | | | | | | | Sawmilling | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | | Panels | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | | Secondary products | 63 | 50 | 62 | 46 | 53 | | Total | 79 | 63 | 76 | 58 | 66 | | Pulp, paper & paper products | | | | | | | Pulp & paper | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | Articles of paper & paperboard | 51 | 51 | 41 | 45 | 45 | | Total | 64 | 64 | 54 | 58 | 58 | | Total wood processing | 143 | 127 | 130 | 116 | 124 | | Total primary wood processing | 29 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 26 |

Source: Annual Business Survey - average employment in year (Office for National Statistics, June 2014)

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. Excludes other wood-using industries.

3. All pulp and paper figures for 2009 and the breakdowns for 2010 to 2012 have been suppressed in the figures released by ONS. The figures shown here are estimated from 2008 figures. 7.2 Employment in primary wood processing

Information on employment in primary wood processing is obtained annually via the sources used to collect data on UK-grown timber (presented in Chapter 2).

There was estimated to be a total of 7.3 thousand full time equivalent staff employed by primary wood processors in the UK in 2013 (Table 7.2). This represents a 1% increase from the total for 2012, but remains lower than in 2010 and 2011.

Over one half (56%) of the total employment in 2013 worked in sawmills and over one quarter (29%) worked in wood-based panel mills.

Table 7.2 Employment in primary wood processing, 2009-2013

| Year | Sawmills | Pulp & paper | Wood-based panels | Fencing | Total | |------|----------|--------------|-------------------|---------|-------| | | | | | | full-time equivalents | | 2009 | 3 806 | 820 | 2 225 | 405 | 7 256 | | 2010 | 4 108 | 745 | 2 343 | 396 | 7 592 | | 2011 | 4 095 | 725 | 2 376 | 397 | 7 593 | | 2012 | 4 136 | 716 | 2 076 | 370 | 7 298 | | 2013 | 4 140 | 716 | 2 111 | 381 | 7 349 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations.

Notes:

1. Some businesses operate sawmills and round fencing mills. Employment for such businesses may be recorded under sawmills, round fencing manufacturers or shared between the two categories. 7.3 Health & safety

From April 2012, accidents involving absence from work of at least seven days are required to be reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Prior to this time, reporting was required for absences of at least three days.

Accident rates in forestry and in wood products have tended to decline in recent years, but are still higher than the averages in agriculture and manufacturing respectively (Table 7.3 and Figure 7.1).

Table 7.3 Accidents to employees in forestry and wood processing2, 2008-09 - 2012-13

| Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)1 | Major Accidents3 | Total Reported | |-----------------------------------------|------------------|----------------| | | Number | Rate/ 1000 employees | Number | Rate/ 1000 employees | | Forestry | | | | | | 2008-09 | 47 | 3.5 | 140 | 10.5 | | 2009-10 | 48 | 4.5 | 137 | 12.9 | | 2010-11 | 43 | 3.3 | 110 | 8.3 | | 2011-12 | 48 | 5.0 | 153 | 16.0 | | 2012-13 provisional | 49 | 4.6 | 120 | 11.2 | | Wood products | | | | | | 2008-09 | 196 | 3.0 | 750 | 11.6 | | 2009-10 | 187 | 3.2 | 688 | 11.7 | | 2010-11 | 178 | 3.3 | 600 | 11.2 | | 2011-12 | 161 | 3.1 | 654 | 12.5 | | 2012-13 provisional | 141 | 2.6 | 490 | 8.9 | | Pulp, paper & paper products | | | | | | 2008-09 | 111 | 1.5 | 522 | 7.0 | | 2009-10 | 103 | 1.7 | 464 | 7.6 | | 2010-11 | 85 | 1.3 | 369 | 5.7 | | 2011-12 | 90 | 1.6 | 393 | 7.0 | | 2012-13 provisional | 75 | 1.4 | 321 | 5.9 |

Source: Health & Safety Executive.

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. Excludes other wood-using industries.

3. Major accidents include fatal accidents, which averaged around 1 per year in each sector.

4. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data for 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years.

Figure 7.1 Accidents to employees: Total reported accidents per 1000 employees Source: Health & Safety Executive.

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. As a result of a change in reporting requirements, data for 2012-13 is not directly comparable with previous years. 7.4 Establishments in the primary wood processing industries

Table 7.4 shows the number of primary wood processors, according to the sampling frames used for Forestry Commission surveys of establishments using UK timber.

The figures in Table 7.4 do not correspond with the VAT and PAYE registration information given in Table 7.5. The figures here count establishments (sites) rather than businesses and include those that do not need to register for VAT or PAYE. They also have a different basis for classification, so some businesses that are excluded from Table 7.5 because of their VAT/PAYE classification are included in this table (typically businesses where primary wood processing is a small part of their total activity), and some businesses included in Table 7.5 are excluded here (usually because they do not use UK-grown timber).

The number of establishments in the primary wood processing industries using UK-grown roundwood has reduced from 304 in 2004 to 247 in 2013, a 19% decrease.

Table 7.4 Number of establishments in the primary wood processing industries using UK-grown roundwood

| Year | Sawmills | Pulp & paper mills | Wood-based panel mills | Round fencing manufacturers | Total¹ | |------|----------|--------------------|------------------------|-----------------------------|--------| | 2004 | 224 | 3 | 8 | 69 | 304 | | 2005 | 213 | 3 | 8 | 65 | 289 | | 2006 | 213 | 2 | 8 | 69 | 292 | | 2007 | 205 | 2 | 8 | 75 | 290 | | 2008 | 197 | 2 | 8 | 67 | 274 | | 2009 | 195 | 2 | 8 | 68 | 273 | | 2010 | 189 | 2 | 7 | 65 | 263 | | 2011 | 185 | 2 | 7 | 64 | 258 | | 2012 | 181 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 251 | | 2013 | 177 | 2 | 7 | 61 | 247 |

Source: industry surveys, industry associations

Notes:

1. A single mill may be recorded twice, as a sawmill and a round fencing manufacturer. 7.5 VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses

Table 7.5 shows the number of VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses classified under forestry and primary wood processing. The headings shown potentially include businesses not traditionally regarded as forestry or primary wood processing, and some businesses traditionally included in forestry and primary wood processing are excluded as they are classified to other headings of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC).

A total of 3,505 forestry businesses, 560 sawmilling businesses, 130 wood-based panel businesses and 240 pulp & paper businesses were registered for VAT and/or PAYE purposes in the UK in 2013.

Table 7.5 Number(^1) of VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)(^2), 2004-2013

| Year | Forestry | Sawmilling | Panels | Pulp & paper | |------|----------|------------|--------|--------------| | 2004 | 2,585 | 795 | 135 | 280 | | 2005 | 2,580 | 760 | 140 | 280 | | 2006 | 2,585 | 735 | 130 | 275 | | 2007 | 2,645 | 700 | 115 | 260 | | 2008 | 3,020 | 730 | 140 | 310 | | 2009 | 3,100 | 685 | 130 | 270 | | 2010 | 3,095 | 640 | 135 | 255 | | 2011 | 3,170 | 605 | 135 | 250 | | 2012 | 3,375 | 585 | 135 | 255 | | 2013 | 3,505 | 560 | 130 | 240 |

Source: UK Business: Activity, Size and Location (Office for National Statistics, October 2013).

Notes:

1. All figures are rounded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to the nearest multiple of 5.

2. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) categories. 2004-2008 data are based on SIC 2003; 2009-2013 data are based on SIC 2007. Given the changes in classifications, the time series may not be fully consistent. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page. 8 Finance & Prices

Introduction

This chapter contains statistics on:

- timber prices;
- financial returns from forestry investment;
- gross value added (GVA);
- Government expenditure on forestry; and
- grant schemes.

Estimates for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included, where possible, in addition to UK or GB totals. Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

Most of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released. Some of the figures on prices (Tables 8.1 and 8.2, Figures 8.1 and 8.2), on gross value added (Table 8.3), on funding public forests (Table 8.4) and on grant money paid (Table 8.6, Figure 8.3) have been revised since Forestry Statistics 2013. For further details on revisions, see the Finance & Prices section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all Finance & Prices tables is available to download as an Excel spreadsheet from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index for Great Britain was 13.5% higher in real terms in the year to March 2014, compared with the previous year.
- The Softwood Sawlog Price Index was 16.0% higher in real terms in the 6 months to March 2014, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
- The Investment Property Databank (IPD) UK Forestry Index shows a total return of 22.2% per annum for the three year period 2011 to 2013, and an annual return of 15.8% for 2013.
- Gross value added (GVA) in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was £1.63 billion in the UK in 2012. GVA in forestry was £0.31 billion.
- Net expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission totalled £40 million in 2013-14. A further £126 million was spent by the Forestry Commission on other activities.
- A total of £73.5 million was paid in grants by the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales in 2013-14. 8.1 Timber prices

Timber Price Indices are based on sales of softwood (conifers) by the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales and are released every 6 months. They cover:

- Sales in England and Scotland by the Forestry Commission; and
- Sales in Wales by the Forestry Commission to 31 March 2013 and by Natural Resources Wales from 1 April 2013.

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index monitors changes in the average price received per cubic metre for timber that the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales sold standing, where the purchaser is responsible for harvesting.

The Softwood Sawlog Price Index monitors changes in the average price received per cubic metre of sawlogs (roundwood with a top diameter of 14 cm or more, destined to be sawn into planks or boards) sold at roadside by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales.

Standing timber and sawlogs are distinct markets, and may show different price movements. The data are averages for historic periods, so may be slow to show any turning points.

These indices are used to monitor trends in timber prices and to provide information on the state of the UK timber industry. They are also used by the UK timber industry, alongside other economic indicators, in contract reviews.

There is little other information currently available on wood prices before primary processing and no price index is available for broadleaves. Prices for outputs of primary wood processing are collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the Producer Price Indices (PPIs), and these are available in the MM22 Business Monitor which gives detailed PPIs monthly.

Table 8.1 presents the coniferous standing sales and sawlog price indices for Great Britain to March 2014.

The coniferous standing sales price index for Great Britain was 13.5% higher in real terms in the year to March 2014, compared with the previous year (Table 8.1). The softwood sawlog price index was 16.0% higher in real terms in the 6 months to March 2014, compared with the corresponding period in the previous year.

Table 8.1 Coniferous standing sales and sawlog price indices(^1) for Great Britain, 2005-2014

| Period ending March | Standing sales(^2) | Sawlogs | |---------------------|---------------------|---------| | | Nominal terms(^3) | Real terms(^4) | Nominal terms(^3) | Real terms(^4) | | | index (period to September 2011 = 100) | | 2005 | 44.8 | 52.8 | 72.3 | 85.2 | | 2006 | 51.6 | 59.7 | 69.1 | 80.0 | | 2007 | 57.2 | 64.4 | 78.1 | 87.7 | | 2008 | 89.6 | 98.4 | 91.5 | 100.3 | | 2009 | 64.0 | 68.3 | 67.5 | 72.0 | | 2010 | 67.5 | 70.2 | 83.3 | 86.2 | | 2011 | 93.5 | 94.7 | 85.7 | 86.8 | | 2012 | 97.5 | 96.6 | 91.7 | 91.0 | | 2013 | 91.3 | 89.4 | 93.7 | 91.3 | | 2014 | 105.5 | 101.5 | 110.3 | 105.9 |

Source: Timber Price Indices: data to March 2014

Notes:

1. The price indices are constructed from information on sales by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales only.

2. Until November 2008 the Laspeyres method was used to calculate the standing sales index to take account of the size mix. Since then the Fisher method with 5 year chain linking has been adopted and has superseded the Laspeyres method, following a period of transition. The figures shown here are from the Fisher chain-linked index.

3. Nominal prices are the actual prices at that point in time.

4. Real terms values are obtained by using the GDP deflator to convert to "constant prices" (in this case prices in 2011). This allows trends in timber prices to be tracked without the influence of inflation.

**Figure 8.1 Coniferous standing sales and sawlog price indices(^1,2) in real terms(^3), 1985-2014**

Source: Timber Price Indices: data to March 2014

Notes:

1. The price indices are constructed from information on sales by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales only.

2. Until November 2008 the Laspeyres method was used to calculate the standing sales index to take account of the size mix. Since then the Fisher method with 5 year chain linking has been adopted and has superseded the Laspeyres method, following a period of transition. The figures shown here are from the Fisher chain-linked index.

3. Real terms values are obtained by using the GDP deflator to convert to "constant prices" (in this case prices in 2011). This allows trends in timber prices to be tracked without the influence of inflation. 8.2 Financial return from forestry investment

Returns to investors in forestry are made up of sales of timber (standing or felled), sales of other goods and services, increases in the value of the woodland (from annual increment or market factors), and the net income from subsidies (e.g. planting grants) less taxes. The investors' costs are made up of employment costs and other purchases.

Estimates of the overall return from commercial forestry are produced annually in the Investment Property Databank (IPD) UK Forestry Index, available at www.ipd.com/OurProducts/Indices/UnitedKingdom/UKForestry/tabid/1012/Default.aspx. The index is calculated from a sample of around 150 private sector coniferous plantations of predominantly Sitka spruce in mainland Britain. The IPD UK Forestry Index is outside the scope of National Statistics.

The index shows a total return of 22.2% per annum for the three year period 2011 to 2013, and an annual return of 15.8% for 2013 (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2 IPD UK Forestry Index: Returns from forestry, 2004-2013

| Period ending | Index (1992=100) | Annual % return | 3 year return (annual average %) | |---------------|------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------| | 2004 | 116.5 | 9.2 | 1.8 | | 2005 | 133.3 | 14.4 | 8.2 | | 2006 | 160.8 | 20.7 | 14.7 | | 2007 | 211.5 | 31.6 | 22.0 | | 2008 | 226.5 | 7.1 | 19.3 | | 2009 | 251.9 | 11.2 | 16.1 | | 2010 | 304.2 | 20.8 | 12.9 | | 2011 | 404.3 | 32.9 | 21.3 | | 2012 | 479.6 | 18.6 | 24.0 | | 2013 | 555.5 | 15.8 | 22.2 |

Source: IPD UK Forestry Index

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Figure 8.2 IPD UK Forestry Index: Returns from forestry

Source: IPD UK Forestry Index

Note:

1. Data collected for the IPD UK Forestry Index started in 1992

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 8.3 Gross value added

Gross value added (GVA) measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the United Kingdom. It is the difference between the value of outputs and the value of intermediate consumption, so mainly comprises employment costs and profits.

The Annual Business Survey (ABS), formerly the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) includes statistics on gross value added for different industries, classified using the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007). The ABI was extended to include forestry from 2000. Further information on the ABS (and ABI) is available from the ONS website at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/index.html

Table 8.3 shows that, in 2012, GVA in primary wood processing (sawmilling, panels and pulp & paper) was reported to be £1.63 billion and GVA in forestry was £0.31 billion.

| Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |-----------------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------| | Forestry | 438 | 382 | 329 | 416 | 310 | | Wood products | | | | | | | Sawmilling | 443 | 299 | 415 | 435 | 586 | | Panels | 254 | 169 | 327 | 197 | 226 | | Secondary products | 2 114| 1 590| 1 630| 1 822| 1 886| | Total | 2 811| 2 058| 2 372| 2 454| 2 698| | Pulp, paper & paper products | | | | | | | Pulp & paper | 734 | 658 | 628 | 888 | 779 | | Articles of paper & paperboard | 2 026| 2 309| 2 912| 3 160| 3 064| | Total | 2 760| 2 968| 3 541| 4 049| 3 843| | Total wood processing | 5 571| 5 026| 5 913| 6 503| 6 541| | Total primary wood processing | 1 431| 1 126| 1 370| 1 515| 1 626|

Source: Annual Business Survey (Office for National Statistics, June 2014)

Notes:

1. Categories are based on the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) categories. Further details on the SIC codes used are provided in the Sources: Employment and businesses page.

2. The 2010 and 2011 figures for panels have been suppressed in the figures released by ONS, so the figures here cover both panels and the manufacture of assembled parquet floors (SIC 16.22) in 2010 and 2011. Panels accounted for 99% of the total of SIC codes 16.21 (panels) and 16.22 in 2008 and in 2009, and 98% in 2012.

3. Excludes other wood-using industries. 8.4 Government expenditure on public forests

Table 8.4 provides information on net expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission in Great Britain. This covers expenditure less income for land that is owned or managed by the Forestry Commission. Other expenditure by the Forestry Commission is covered in Table 8.5.

The Forestry Commission’s functions in Wales transferred to a new organisation, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), on 1 April 2013. Figures for Wales in Tables 8.4 and 8.5 relate to expenditure to 31 March 2013 that was incurred by Forestry Commission Wales. Expenditure in Wales from 1 April 2013 is excluded from the tables.

Net expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission in 2013-14 totalled £40 million. This comprised £26 million in Scotland and £15 million in England.

Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for £63 million of the total expenditure in 2013-14, harvesting & haulage for £35 million and other expenditure on public forests for £90 million.

Timber sales generated a total income of £101 million in 2013-14. Recreation, conservation & heritage accounted for a further £21 million and other income from public forests for £26 million.

| Table 8.4 Funding public forests - net expenditure1,2,3, 2009-10 - 2013-14 | |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| | | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | | **GB** | | | | | | | Harvesting & haulage | Expenditure | 41.2 | 43.6 | 43.8 | 43.5 | 35.1 | | Recreation, etc4 | Expenditure | 63.4 | 67.6 | 72.6 | 66.4 | 63.3 | | Other | Expenditure | 76.9 | 89.9 | 92.3 | 97.9 | 89.7 | | Timber | Income | -77.4 | -91.6 | -105.7 | -101.9 | -100.7 | | Recreation, etc4 | Income | -17.6 | -19.8 | -21.8 | -20.0 | -21.3 | | Other | Income | -24.4 | -27.1 | -25.2 | -29.9 | -25.8 | | **Net expenditure** | | 62.1 | 62.6 | 56.0 | 56.0 | 40.3 | | **England** | | | | | | | Harvesting & haulage | Expenditure | 12.3 | 11.7 | 12.0 | 10.4 | 10.9 | | Recreation, etc4 | Expenditure | 39.4 | 40.4 | 42.1 | 37.9 | 39.0 | | Other | Expenditure | 20.9 | 24.3 | 25.7 | 23.3 | 29.1 | | Timber | Income | -24.5 | -29.5 | -33.4 | -31.3 | -35.5 | | Recreation, etc4 | Income | -14.2 | -15.2 | -15.0 | -14.9 | -15.8 | | Other | Income | -10.5 | -12.9 | -12.2 | -11.1 | -12.9 | | **Net expenditure** | | 23.3 | 18.9 | 19.2 | 14.3 | 14.8 | | **Wales** | | | | | | | Harvesting & haulage | Expenditure | 7.0 | 11.0 | 9.5 | 9.9 | .. | | Recreation, etc4 | Expenditure | 6.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 | .. | | Other | Expenditure | 12.8 | 13.5 | 12.5 | 12.1 | .. | | Timber | Income | -13.2 | -14.1 | -13.4 | -13.5 | .. | | Recreation, etc4 | Income | -1.1 | -1.0 | -2.0 | -0.9 | .. | | Other | Income | -1.5 | -3.4 | -3.4 | -8.1 | .. | | **Net expenditure** | | 10.6 | 9.8 | 6.9 | 3.5 | .. | | **Scotland** | | | | | |

1. Expenditure includes expenditure on public forests by the Forestry Commission in Great Britain, excluding expenditure on land owned or managed by the Forestry Commission.
2. Income includes income from timber sales, recreation, conservation & heritage, and other income from public forests.
3. Figures for Wales in Tables 8.4 and 8.5 relate to expenditure to 31 March 2013 that was incurred by Forestry Commission Wales. Expenditure in Wales from 1 April 2013 is excluded from the tables. | | Expenditure | | | | | |--------------------------|-------------|-------|-------|-------|-------| | Harvesting & haulage | 22.0 | 21.0 | 22.3 | 23.2 | 24.2 | | Recreation, etc<sup>4</sup> | 17.4 | 23.5 | 26.8 | 24.5 | 24.3 | | Other | 43.2 | 52.0 | 54.1 | 62.5 | 60.6 | | Timber | -39.7 | -48.1 | -58.9 | -57.1 | -65.2 | | Recreation, etc<sup>4</sup> | -2.3 | -3.6 | -4.8 | -4.2 | -5.5 | | Other | -12.4 | -10.7 | -9.6 | -10.7 | -12.9 | | **Net expenditure** | **28.2** | **34.0** | **29.9** | **38.2** | **25.5** |

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes:

1. Forestry Commission expenditure only. Excludes expenditure incurred by other departments.
2. Excludes notional cost of capital and any surplus/deficit on sale of properties.
3. Excludes gain on revaluation of biological assets and value of timber felled, that were included for the first time in the 2009-10 Accounts.
4. Recreation, etc includes conservation and heritage.

.. Denotes data not available; responsibility for forestry in Wales transferred to Natural Resources Wales on 1 April 2013. 8.5 Other government expenditure on forestry

Table 8.5 provides information on other expenditure (excluding public forests) by the Forestry Commission, it includes expenditure by National Offices in England, Wales (until 2012-13) and Scotland as well as expenditure on GB level functions. Expenditure on land that is owned or managed by the Forestry Commission is covered in Table 8.4.

In addition to expenditure on public forests, the Forestry Commission spent a total of £126 million on other activities in 2013-14.

£87 million was used by the national offices in England and Scotland for grants and partnership funding and a further £12 million for policy, regulation & administration. At a GB level, £36 million was used for international & GB support services and £13 million for research.

Table 8.5 Other government expenditure on forestry1,2, 2009-10 - 2013-14

| | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | |----------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------| | GB | | | | | | | Grants and partnership funding3 | 44.0 | 65.4 | 82.3 | 83.3 | 87.2 | | Policy, regulation & administration | 30.3 | 21.8 | 25.7 | 26.6 | 11.5 | | Research - GB funded | 15.0 | 16.4 | 15.2 | 12.7 | 13.3 | | International & GB support services | 31.9 | 33.0 | 33.6 | 34.3 | 36.0 | | Less recovery of support service costs from countries | -24.0 | -24.1 | -23.9 | -22.0 | -22.4 | | Total | 97.2 | 112.5 | 132.9 | 134.9 | 125.6 | | England | | | | | | | Grants and partnership funding3 | 17.8 | 26.7 | 32.6 | 35.8 | 40.2 | | Policy, regulation & administration4 | 9.4 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | | Total | 27.1 | 28.8 | 34.5 | 38.2 | 42.4 | | Wales | | | | | | | Grants and partnership funding3 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 5.5 | .. | | Policy, regulation & administration4 | 11.2 | 9.6 | 14.7 | 15.4 | .. | | Total | 16.1 | 14.1 | 19.6 | 20.9 | .. | | Scotland | | | | | | | Grants and partnership funding3 | 21.3 | 34.2 | 44.8 | 42.0 | 47.0 | | Policy, regulation & administration4 | 9.8 | 10.2 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 9.3 | | Total | 31.0 | 44.3 | 53.9 | 50.8 | 56.3 |

Source: Forestry Commission

Notes:

1. Forestry Commission expenditure only. Excludes expenditure incurred by other departments.

2. Excludes miscellaneous income.

3. EU co-financing not subtracted from grant expenditure. In Wales, includes “Objective 1” expenditure, starting in 2003. In addition, from 1 April 2008 the Forestry Commission ceased to hold delegated authority for the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) grant scheme. Authority for the RDPE grant scheme now rests with Defra.

4. Country costs for “policy, regulation & administration” include shares of GB support service costs.

.. Denotes data not available; responsibility for forestry in Wales transferred to Natural Resources Wales on 1 April 2013. 8.6 Grant schemes

Private sector woodland in Great Britain is supported by a range of grants for creating new woodland and managing existing woodland. The Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS) was introduced in 1988, at the same time as tax relief was phased out. In Scotland, WGS was replaced by the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) in 2003 and, more recently, by Rural Development Contracts. The English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) was launched in July 2005, Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW) was launched in December 2005 and has now been replaced by Glastir.

Because of the differences between these schemes, it is increasingly difficult to provide comparable statistics across the three countries. The following tables provide useful information relating to planting and grants:

- Table 1.14 for total areas of new planting and restocking;
- Table 8.5 for expenditure by the Forestry Commission on grants and partnership funding;
- Table 8.6 (below) for grant expenditure by the Forestry Commission (including grant expenditure managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Defra) and by Natural Resources Wales.

Table 8.6 presents information on grant money paid in 2004-05 to 2013-14. A total of £73.5 million was paid in grants in 2013-14, a 5% increase from the total for the previous year.

| Type of grant | England1 | Wales | Scotland2 | GB £ million | |---------------|----------|-------|-----------|--------------| | 2004-05 | 16.8 | 2.5 | 9.2 | 28.6 | | 2005-06 | 17.1 | 2.8 | 19.7 | 39.6 | | 2006-07 | 15.9 | 3.1 | 32.6 | 51.6 | | 2007-08 | 41.7 | 2.6 | 26.9 | 71.1 | | 2008-09 | 24.1 | 3.7 | 10.9 | 38.7 | | 2009-10 | 24.4 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 33.0 | | 2010-11 | 28.7 | 3.8 | 18.9 | 51.4 | | 2011-12 | 32.5 | 5.4 | 34.2 | 72.1 | | 2012-13 | 32.8 | 5.0 | 32.3 | 70.1 | | 2013-14 | 33.9 | 4.1 | 35.5 | 73.5 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales

Notes:

1. England includes grant scheme expenditure managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of Defra.
2. Scotland includes grants paid under Rural Development Contracts and legacy schemes.

The total grant money paid in Great Britain has fluctuated over the last 10 years, with levels often dipping around the times that new grant schemes are introduced, followed by a sharp recovery.

Figure 8.3 Grant money paid, 2003-04 to 2013-14 Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales 9 International Forestry

Introduction

This chapter contains information about world forestry, presenting global figures by region alongside data for the UK and the EU. Topics covered include woodland area, carbon stocks, wood removals, production and apparent consumption of wood products and international trade in forest products.

The data are produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Further information on the data sources and methodology used to compile the figures is provided in the Sources chapter.

All of the statistics presented in this chapter have been previously released by the FAO. For further details on revisions, see the International Forestry section of the Sources chapter.

A copy of all International Forestry tables is available to download from the Tables for Download page.

Key findings

The main findings are:

- At around 12% forest cover in 2010 (now estimated to be 13%, see Table 1.2), the UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe. This compares with 37% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.
- The global forest area reduced by around 8.3 million hectares (0.2%) per year between 1990 and 2000 and by around 5.2 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2000 and 2010.
- Carbon stocks in forest living biomass in Europe have increased in both Europe and North & Central America between 2000 and 2010, but have decreased at a global level.
- A total of 3.5 billion m³ underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2012, of which over half (52%) was for use as woodfuel and the remaining 48% was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors).
- Global production of wood products in 2012 totalled 400 million m³ of sawnwood, 301 million m³ of wood-based panels and 399 million tonnes of paper & paperboard.
- Europe consumed around one quarter (26%) of all sawnwood, around one quarter (24%) of the world's wood-based panels and around one quarter (23%) of all paper and paperboard in 2012.
- The UK was the third largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2012, behind China and Japan. 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons

The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is a collation of forest data undertaken by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the global level every five years.

At around 12% forest cover in 2010 (now estimated to be 13%, see Table 1.2), the UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe (Table 9.1, Figure 9.1). This compares with 37% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.

Table 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons, 2010

| Country | Forest area (million ha) | Total land area (million ha) | Forest as % of land area | Forest area (ha) per 100 population | |------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Europe | | | | | | United Kingdom | 3 | 24 | 12 | 5 | | Finland | 22 | 30 | 73 | 418 | | France | 16 | 55 | 29 | 26 | | Germany | 11 | 35 | 32 | 13 | | Italy | 9 | 29 | 31 | 15 | | Spain | 18 | 50 | 36 | 41 | | Sweden | 28 | 41 | 69 | 306 | | Other EU | 49 | 154 | 32 | 29 | | **Total EU-27** | **157** | **419** | **37** | **32** | | Russian Federation | 809 | 1 638 | 49 | 572 | | **Total Europe** | **1 005** | **2 215** | **45** | **137** | | Africa | 674 | 2 974 | 23 | 68 | | Asia | 593 | 3 091 | 19 | 15 | | North & Central America | 705 | 2 135 | 33 | 132 | | Oceania | 191 | 849 | 23 | 548 | | South America | 864 | 1 746 | 49 | 225 | | **World** | **4 033** | **13 011** | **31** | **60** |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-27 total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Figure 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons, 2010 These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 9.2 Forest area by country

One fifth of the world's forest area is located in the Russian Federation, with a further 13% in Brazil (Figure 9.2).

Figure 9.2 Forest area by country, 2010

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 9.3 Annual changes in forest area

The global forest area reduced by around 8.3 million hectares (0.2%) per year between 1990 and 2000 and by around 5.2 million hectares (0.1%) per year between 2000 and 2010 (Table 9.2).

The forest area has reduced in most regions since 1990, except for Europe (where the area increased in both decades) and Asia (where the area reduced between 1990 and 2000 but has increased by more between 2000 and 2010).

Table 9.2 Annual changes in forest area by region, 1990-2010

| Region | 1990-2000 (thousand ha) | 1990-2000 (%) | 2000-2010 (thousand ha) | 2000-2010 (%) | |-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------|-------------------------|---------------| | Europe | | | | | | UK | 18 | 0.68 | 9 | 0.31 | | EU-27¹ | 732 | 0.51 | 517 | 0.34 | | Total Europe | 877 | 0.09 | 676 | 0.07 | | Africa | -4 067 | -0.56 | -3 414 | -0.49 | | Asia | -595 | -0.10 | 2 235 | 0.39 | | North and Central America | -289 | -0.04 | -10 | 0.00 | | Oceania | -36 | -0.02 | -700 | -0.36 | | South America | -4 213 | -0.45 | -3 997 | -0.45 | | World | -8 323 | -0.20 | -5 211 | -0.13 |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-27 total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Between 2000 and 2010, the largest decrease in forest area was in Brazil (2.6 million hectares per year on average) and the largest increase was in China (3.0 million hectares per year on average) (Figure 9.3).

Figure 9.3 Countries with largest changes in forest area, 2000-2010

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

Notes:

1. Countries with changes of at least 0.4 million hectares per year only.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 9.4 Carbon stocks in forest biomass

From 1990 to 2010, carbon in forest living biomass decreased in South America and Africa, where forest areas decreased (Table 9.3, Figure 9.4). Carbon stocks in biomass also declined slightly in Asia, where carbon sequestered in new plantations is not yet able to balance out carbon losses from areas of deforestation. Carbon stocks in biomass increased in Europe and North & Central America.

Table 9.3 Carbon stocks in forest living biomass by region, 1990-2010

| Region | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | |-------------------------|-------|-------|-------|-------| | Europe | 42.2 | 43.2 | 44.0 | 45.0 | | Africa | 60.9 | 58.3 | 57.1 | 55.9 | | Asia | 37.2 | 36.8 | 36.6 | 35.7 | | North and Central America| 37.8 | 38.5 | 39.0 | 39.6 | | Oceania | 10.9 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.5 | | South America | 110.3 | 106.2 | 103.9 | 102.2 | | **World** | **299.2** | **293.8** | **291.3** | **288.8** |

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

Notes:

1. A giga tonne is a thousand million tonnes (10^9 tonnes).

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

Figure 9.4 Carbon stock per hectare in forest biomass by region, 2010

Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 9.5 Wood removals

A total of 3.5 billion m$^3$ underbark of wood was removed from global forests in 2012, of which over half (52%) was for use as woodfuel and the remaining 48% was industrial roundwood (for use by wood processors) (Table 9.4).

North & Central America and Europe together accounted for around three fifths (59%) of all industrial roundwood removals in 2012. Globally, removals of industrial roundwood increased by 5% between 2010 and 2012, resulting in part from a 7% increase in Europe.

Around three quarters (74%) of woodfuel removals in 2012 took place in Asia and Africa. Globally, removals of woodfuel decreased by 1% between 2010 and 2012.

Table 9.4 Wood removals by region, 1990-2012

| Region | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | |-----------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|------| | | million m$^3$ underbark | | **Industrial roundwood** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | | EU-27$^1$ | 316 | 292 | 339 | 368 | 335 | 325 | | **Total Europe** | 515 | 405 | 479 | 540 | 506 | 541 | | Africa | 61 | 67 | 70 | 74 | 71 | 68 | | Asia | 268 | 276 | 269 | 292 | 341 | 355 | | North and Central America | 595 | 603 | 632 | 635 | 432 | 450 | | Oceania | 33 | 41 | 47 | 50 | 54 | 56 | | South America | 110 | 135 | 147 | 176 | 197 | 219 | | **World** | 1 582| 1 527| 1 645| 1 766| 1 602| 1 689| | **Woodfuel** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | EU-27$^1$ | 67 | 66 | 69 | 75 | 88 | 92 | | **Total Europe** | 138 | 107 | 133 | 139 | 152 | 139 | | Africa | 445 | 513 | 542 | 589 | 630 | 626 | | Asia | 897 | 849 | 808 | 792 | 766 | 750 | | North and Central America | 162 | 145 | 129 | 130 | 129 | 130 | | Oceania | 9 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | South America | 162 | 173 | 185 | 193 | 198 | 203 | | **World** | 1 814| 1 798| 1 810| 1 855| 1 886| 1 859| | **Total roundwood** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | | EU-27$^1$ | 383 | 358 | 408 | 443 | 423 | 417 | | **Total Europe** | 653 | 512 | 612 | 679 | 658 | 680 | | Africa | 506 | 580 | 613 | 663 | 701 | 695 | | Asia | 1 166| 1 125| 1 076| 1 084| 1 108| 1 105| | North and Central America | 757 | 748 | 761 | 765 | 561 | 580 | | Oceania | 42 | 52 | 60 | 61 | 65 | 67 | | South America | 272 | 308 | 332 | 369 | 395 | 421 | |--------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----| | World | 3396| 3325| 3455| 3622| 3488| 3548|

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-27 total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

**Figure 9.5 Wood removals by region, 2012**

Source: FAO.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics 9.6 Production of wood products

Global production of wood products in 2012 totalled 400 million m$^3$ of sawnwood, 301 million m$^3$ of woodbased panels and 399 million tonnes of paper & paperboard (Table 9.5).

Europe produced around one third (35%) of all sawnwood in 2012 (mainly in EU countries), with around one quarter (27%) produced in North & Central America and a further quarter (26%) in Asia. Overall, sawnwood production increased by 6% between 2010 and 2012.

Wood-based panels were more commonly produced in Asia, accounting for around one half (53%) of global production in 2012. Around one quarter (25%) were produced in Europe (mainly EU countries) and 15% in North & Central America. At a global level, wood-based panel production increased by 7% between 2010 and 2012.

Asia also accounted for over two fifths (45%) of paper and paperboard production in 2012, with around one quarter (26%) in Europe and a further quarter (23%) in North & Central America.

Table 9.5 Production of wood products by region, 1990-2012

| Region | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | |-------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|------| | **Sawnwood (million m$^3$)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | EU-27$^1$ | 81 | 82 | 100 | 108 | 100 | 97 | | **Total Europe** | 149 | 118 | 129 | 144 | 139 | 139 | | Africa | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | | Asia | 105 | 96 | 61 | 78 | 87 | 105 | | North and Central America | 129 | 134 | 146 | 162 | 102 | 109 | | Oceania | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | South America | 22 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 30 | 29 | | **World** | 419 | 391 | 385 | 438 | 376 | 400 | | **Wood-based panels (million m$^3$)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | EU-27$^1$ | 36 | 40 | 53 | 63 | 58 | 57 | | **Total Europe** | 48 | 46 | 61 | 75 | 73 | 75 | | Africa | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | Asia | 27 | 44 | 49 | 92 | 143 | 160 | | North and Central America | 44 | 47 | 62 | 64 | 44 | 44 | | Oceania | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | South America | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 17 | | **World** | 126 | 147 | 186 | 251 | 281 | 301 | | **Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | | EU-27$^1$ | 63 | 74 | 90 | 98 | 95 | 93 | | **Total Europe** | 73 | 82 | 100 | 111 | 106 | 105 | | Africa | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | Asia | 57 | 77 | 95 | 124 | 170 | 181 | | Region | 92 | 108 | 111 | 108 | 96 | 90 | |----------------------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----| | North and Central America | 92 | 108 | 111 | 108 | 96 | 90 | | Oceania | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | South America | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | | **World** | 235 | 282 | 325 | 365 | 395 | 399 |

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-27 total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 9.7 Apparent consumption of wood products

Apparent consumption (defined as production + imports - exports) of wood products around the world totalled 394 million m³ sawnwood, 299 million m³ wood-based panels and 397 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2012 (Table 9.6).

Almost two fifths (37%) of all sawnwood in 2012 was consumed in Asia and around one quarter each in Europe (26%) and in North & Central America (25%). Reflecting the increased production of sawnwood in recent years (see Table 9.5), apparent consumption of sawnwood increased by 6% overall between 2010 and 2012. This was driven by a 24% increase in apparent consumption in Asia; there was a decline over the same period in Europe and in South America.

Asia consumed around one half (53%) of the world's wood-based panels in 2012, around one quarter (24%) was consumed in Europe and 17% in North & Central America. Apparent consumption of wood-based panels worldwide increased by 7% between 2010 and 2012.

Almost one half (48%) of all paper and paperboard in 2012 was consumed in Asia, around one quarter (23%) in Europe and a further one fifth (22%) in North & Central America. At a global level, apparent consumption of paper and paperboard increased by 1% between 2010 and 2012.

Table 9.6 Apparent consumption of wood products by region, 1990-2012

| Region | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | |-------------------------------|------|------|------|------|------|------| | **Sawnwood (million m³)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 13 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | | EU-27¹ | 96 | 80 | 99 | 103 | 90 | 83 | | **Total Europe** | 157 | 109 | 121 | 121 | 109 | 103 | | Africa | 10 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 16 | | Asia | 112 | 112 | 77 | 97 | 117 | 145 | | North and Central America | 119 | 126 | 143 | 166 | 95 | 98 | | Oceania | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | | South America | 20 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 27 | 25 | | **World** | 426 | 390 | 387 | 436 | 372 | 394 | | **Wood-based panels (million m³)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | | EU-27¹ | 40 | 41 | 53 | 59 | 56 | 53 | | **Total Europe** | 51 | 47 | 59 | 71 | 70 | 71 | | Africa | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | | Asia | 25 | 46 | 54 | 92 | 139 | 157 | | North and Central America | 44 | 47 | 65 | 73 | 50 | 50 | | Oceania | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | | South America | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 14 | | **World** | 126 | 147 | 189 | 250 | 279 | 299 | | **Paper & paperboard (million tonnes)** | | | | | | | | **Europe** | | | | | | | | UK | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | | EU-27¹ | 62 | 68 | 83 | 87 | 84 | 80 | | Region | 71 | 73 | 90 | 98 | 94 | 92 | |-------------------------|----|----|----|----|----|----| | Total Europe | 235| 277| 325| 364| 393| 397| | Africa | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | | Asia | 62 | 85 | 103| 134| 179| 190| | North and Central America| 88 | 101| 110| 107| 92 | 86 | | Oceania | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | | South America | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 |

Source: FAO.

Notes:

1. Cyprus is included in EU-27 total but is part of FAO's Asia region.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics. 9.8 World trade in forest products

Figures 9.6 and 9.7 show the largest net importers and exporters (by value) of forest products in 2012. This covers trade in roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood pulp and paper and paperboard. Values are expressed in US dollars.

The UK was the third largest net importer (imports less exports) of forest products in 2012, with net imports of $7.3 billion (Figure 9.6). The largest net importers in 2012 were China ($26.1 billion) and Japan ($10.4 billion).

**Figure 9.6 Largest net importers of forest products, 2012**

Source: FAO

Notes:

1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics

The largest net exporters (exports less imports) of forest products in 2012 were Canada (with net exports valued at $16.8 billion), Sweden ($12.5 billion) and Finland ($11.4 billion) (Figure 9.7).

**Figure 9.7 Largest net exporters of forest products, 2012**

Source: FAO Notes:

1. Excludes trade in secondary wood products.

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics Ancient woodland Woodland which has been in continuous existence since 1600 (1750 in Scotland).

Bioenergy Energy from any fuel that is derived from biomass.

Biomass Material that is derived from living, or recently living, biological organisms.

Biosecurity A set of precautions that aim to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms. These may be pests, pathogens or invasive species.

Brash Branch wood and leaf material that is generally too small in diameter to be considered part of the timber product from a harvesting site.

Briquettes Similar to wood pellets (see below) but larger, briquettes are made from compressed wood fibres and used for heating.

Broadleaves Trees that do not have needles or cones, such as oak, birch and beech. A few, such as alder, have cone-like structures for their seeds which are not true cones.

Cement bonded particleboard Sheet material manufactured under pressure, based on wood and other vegetable particles bound with hydraulic cement and possibly containing additives.

Chipboard (see Particleboard).

Clearfell areas Sites where all trees have been felled at once. In non-clearfell areas, only some trees are felled at any one time.

Clustering A sampling technique where the entire population is divided into groups, or clusters, and a random sample of these clusters are selected. All (or a selection of) observations in the selected clusters are included in the sample. Cluster sampling is often used when a random sample would produce a list of subjects so widely scattered that surveying them would prove to be far too expensive.

Confidence interval An estimated range of values that is likely to include an unknown population parameter (i.e. a fixed value for the population as a whole). The confidence interval around an estimate is derived from the sample data, and is used to indicate the reliability of the estimate.

Conifers Trees with needles and cones, such as spruce, pine and larch.

Conversion factor Numerical factor by which a quantity that is expressed in one set of units must be multiplied in order to convert it into another set of units.

Coppice Trees that are cut near ground level (or sometimes higher, in which case they are called pollards), causing them to produce many small shoots. These shoots are harvested every few years at a relatively early age for products such as staves, fencing, fuel and charcoal. "Coppice with standards" includes scattered trees that are left to grow as normal ("standards").

**Dead wood** Non-living woody biomass not contained in the litter, either standing or lying on the ground. For wood carbon reporting, the minimum was 15 cm diameter for standing and lying deadwood, and 7 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) for fallen trees.

**Defra** Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

**Deliveries** The quantities of UK-grown roundwood that are delivered to processors (mills) or for other uses (such as woodfuel and exports). Note that for sawmills and round fencing mills, the deliveries figure reported is actually the quantity of roundwood consumed by the mill, which may differ from the true deliveries figure if the levels of input stocks vary.

**Direct production** Timber that is sold after the trees have been felled by the woodland owner or their contractors.

**Establishment** The first five to ten years or formative period that ends once young trees are of sufficient size that, given adequate protection, they are likely to survive at the required stocking.

**EU** European Union. It currently comprises 28 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

**Eurostat** The statistical office of the European Union, situated in Luxembourg. Its task is to provide the European Union with statistics at European level that enable comparisons between countries and regions.

**FAO** United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, responsible for the Forest Resources Assessment and for compiling international statistics on production and trade of wood products.

**Fibreboard** Panel material with thickness equal to or greater than 1.5mm, manufactured from lignocellulosic fibres with application of heat and/or pressure. The bond is derived either from the felting of the fibres and their inherent adhesive properties or from a synthetic binder added to the fibres.

**Forest** In the United Kingdom, there is no formal definition of "forest"; the term is often used for large woodland areas (especially conifers) or for old Royal hunting preserves such as the New Forest or the Forest of Dean.

**Forest Service (FS)** The agency of the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development responsible for forestry matters in Northern Ireland.

**Forestry Commission (FC)** The government department responsible for forestry matters in England, Scotland and (until March 2013) Wales. The Forestry Commission's functions in Wales transferred to a new organisation, Natural Resources Wales, on 1 April 2013. The responsibility for forestry is devolved. FSC Forest Stewardship Council.

GDP deflator Gross Domestic Product at market prices deflator. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a measure of the total economic activity. Growth in GDP reflects both growth in the economy and price change (inflation). Applying a GDP deflator to time series of prices or price indices removes the effects of inflation to enable a comparison of changes in price that are not caused by inflation.

Great Britain (GB) England, Wales and Scotland.

Green tonne The weight measurement of timber freshly felled before any natural or artificial drying has occurred.

Gross Value Added (GVA) A measure of the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the United Kingdom.

Growing stock The volume of timber in living trees. It is also often referred to as the standing volume.

Hardwood The wood of broadleaved trees, such as oak, birch and beech; a term sometimes used for the broadleaved trees themselves.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) The United Kingdom's tax authority.

Hectare (ha) Unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres (100 m by 100 m), approximately equivalent to 2.47 acres.

High forest Trees capable of growing to be suitable for timber production (compare with coppice).

Increment The growth rate of standing trees.

Kyoto Protocol A protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that set binding obligations on the industrialised countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Litter Non-living biomass with a diameter less than the minimum for dead wood, lying dead in various states of decomposition above the soil.

Long term contracts (LTC) Sales of roundwood, felled or standing, to customers over a period of more than one year. The second and subsequent years of a long term contract are negotiated after the sale of the first year's volume.

Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) Wood fibreboard made by a dry process in which the primary bond is derived from a bonding agent, and having a density usually exceeding 600 kg per cubic metre.

Movement Licence Any movement of Phytophthora-affected wood from a forest site (or subsequent move of affected material from a mill or processing site) requires a Movement Licence to be issued by the Forestry Commission.

Native species Species that have arrived and inhabited an area naturally, without deliberate assistance by man. For trees and shrubs in the United Kingdom usually taken to mean those present after post-glacial recolonisation and before historic times. Some species are only native in particular regions - hence locally native.

**Natural colonisation** The creation of new woodland by natural means, i.e. without sowing or planting.

**Natural regeneration** The regeneration of existing woodland by natural means, i.e. without sowing or planting.

**Natural Resources Wales (NRW)** The organisation responsible for advising the Welsh Government on the environment, created on 1 April 2013. NRW is responsible for the functions previously carried out by the Environment Agency in Wales, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission Wales.

**New planting** Establishing woodland on ground that was not woodland in the recent past.

**NFI** National Forest Inventory.

**NI** Northern Ireland.

**NIWT** 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees.

**Nominal terms** Refers to prices at the time of sale. See also "real terms".

**ONS** Office for National Statistics.

**Oriented strand board (OSB)** Multi-layered board made from strands of wood of a predetermined shape and thickness together with a binder. The strands in the external layers are aligned and parallel to the board length or width.

**Oven dry tonnes (ODT)** Measurement of quantity without moisture (i.e. 0% moisture content).

**Overbark** The volume of wood including the bark. Can be either standing volume or felled volume.

**Particleboard** Panel material manufactured under pressure and heat from particles of wood (wood and chipboard flakes, chips, shavings, sawdust), with the addition of an adhesive.

**PAYE** Pay-as-you-earn tax.

**Photosynthesis** Chemical process carried out by green plants in the presence of light, which combines carbon dioxide from the atmosphere with hydrogen from water in the soil to form sugars as food for the growing plant. Oxygen is a by-product of the reaction.

**Phytophthora ramorum** Fungus-like pathogen of plants that causes extensive damage and mortality to trees (including Japanese larch) and other plants.

**Plywood** Wood-based panel consisting of an assembly of layers bonded together with the direction of the grain in adjacent layers, usually at right angles (not currently made in the UK).

**Price index** A measure of the proportionate, or percentage, changes in a set of prices over time. Commonly used indices include the Laspeyres index, Paasche index and Fisher index.

**Pulp** A fibrous material produced by mechanically or chemically reducing wood into their component parts from which pulp, paper and paperboard sheets are formed after proper slushing and treatment or used for dissolving purposes (dissolving pulp or chemical cellulose) to make rayon, plastics, and other synthetic products. Sometimes called wood pulp.

**Quota sampling** A method of sampling where interviewers are each given a fixed number of subjects of specified type to interview.

**Real terms** Refers to prices at a common date. Prices in real terms are derived by applying a deflator to remove the effects of general inflation to enable a comparison of changes over time that have not resulted from inflation. See also "nominal terms".

**Recovered wood** Either industrial process by-products (e.g. offcuts or fines from a board manufacturing mill, furniture factory, joinery or construction) or from post-consumer waste wood (e.g. pallets, construction waste) after the stage of recovery or reclamation for purposes of recycling.

**Restocking** The replanting of an area after trees are removed.

**Roadside sales** Sales of timber after harvesting. The owner is responsible for getting the trees felled and extracting them to the side of the road, ready to take away.

**Roundwood** Trunk or branch wood, generally with a top diameter of 7 cm or more. Can be in the form of logs (14 cm top diameter or more) or small roundwood (7 to 14 cm).

**Sawlogs** Material of at least 14 cm top diameter that is destined to be sawn into planks or boards.

**Sawmill products** Materials including wood chips, sawdust and bark which arise during the conversion of logs to sawn timber. Most are used as inputs to other wood processing industries, sold for bioenergy or sold for other uses. Formerly called sawmill residues or co-products.

**Sawnwood** Sawn timber - timber that has been cut into planks or boards from logs.

**Scottish Government (SG)** The executive branch of the devolved government of Scotland. Previously known as the Scottish Executive.

**Scrub** Area of poorly formed trees or bushes unsuitable for conversion to timber.

**Semi-natural woodland** Woodland with natural characteristics (predominantly native species of trees, ground plants and animals) where wood production is not a primary objective; this term is used rather than natural because the woodland may have originally been planted or have been managed for wood production in the past. **Short rotation coppice (SRC)** An energy crop, usually consisting of densely planted, high yielding varieties of willow or poplar.

**Silviculture** The care and cultivation of forest trees.

**Softwood** The wood of coniferous trees, such as spruce, pine and larch; a term sometimes used for the coniferous trees themselves.

**Stand** A relatively uniform collection of trees (from either planting or natural regeneration) composed, for example, of a single species or a single age class.

**Standing sales** Sales of timber while the trees are still standing. The buyer is responsible for getting the trees felled and removed from the site.

**Standing volume** Measurement of quantity before trees are felled. Usually expressed as cubic metres overbark standing.

**Statistical significance** A statistical assessment of whether observations reflect an actual pattern rather than just chance.

**Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN)** Statutory Plant Health Notices, requiring the felling of infected trees, are issued by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales/ Forest Service to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. They are currently being issued to control the movement of material infected with Phytophthora ramorum.

**Stemwood** Wood from the stem and main branches of a tree, excluding the stump and small branches.

**Stocked area** Area stocked with living trees. This differs from the woodland area (see below) in that felled areas awaiting restocking and areas of integral open space are generally excluded from the stocked area.

**Stratification** A sampling technique where the entire population is divided into groups, or strata, and a random sample is selected within each group. Stratified sampling is often used to ensure that sufficient numbers from each group are included in the overall sample, particularly where results are required for each group.

**Stump** The above-ground base part of a tree that would usually remain after felling.

**Thinning** A proportion of stems removed in order to give the best stems space and light to grow into a more valuable crop. This is usually carried out some time after canopy closure and may be repeated at intervals. It is a necessary operation in the production of quality timber. A temporary reduction in standing volume will result.

**UKFPA** United Kingdom Forest Products Association.

**UN ECE** United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, responsible for compiling international statistics on production and trade of wood products for Europe, the Russian Federation and North America.

**Underbark** The volume of wood excluding the bark. United Kingdom (UK) Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

VAT Value Added Tax.

Veneer A thin layer of wood, produced by peeling or slicing, used for decorative purposes. Veneers are usually applied to less expensive or less attractive substitutes including solid timber, wood-based sheet materials, etc.

Weighting A set of factors assigned to survey responses to ensure that the resulting weighted results are representative of the population as a whole.

Welsh Government The executive branch of the devolved government of Wales.

Wood pellets Sawdust or wood shavings compressed into uniform diameter pellets. They are often burned for heat or energy, but may also be used for other purposes (such as horse bedding or cat litter).

Woodland Land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20% (25% in Northern Ireland), or having the potential to achieve this, including integral open space, and including felled areas that are awaiting restocking.

Wood Raw Material Equivalent (WRME) The volume of trees required to produce a wood product. Can be measured underbark or overbark. This chapter provides background information on the statistics presented in this release. It covers the data sources and methodology used to produce the statistics, information on quality measures and on any revisions to historic data and links to further information.

Further details on quality are provided in quality reports for selected topics and for individual surveys, available from our Quality web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85 11.1 Sources: Woodland area and planting

Introduction

The definition of woodland in United Kingdom forestry statistics is land under stands of trees with a canopy cover of at least 20% (or having the potential to achieve this), including integral open space, and including felled areas that are awaiting restocking. There is no minimum height for trees to form a woodland at maturity, so the definition includes woodland scrub but not areas with only shrub species such as gorse or Rhododendron.

There is no minimum size for a woodland. In this report, statistics based on the National Forest Inventory (NFI), refer to woods and forests of at least 0.5 hectares, as mapped through the NFI. Previously, figures based on the 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees included sample-based estimates for woods and forests between 0.1 hectares and 2.0 hectares in addition to mapped areas of 2.0 hectares or over.

This is a slightly different definition from that used internationally which is based on 10% canopy cover, a minimum height at maturity of 5m and minimum area of 0.5 hectares. The latest estimate of the effect of the difference in minimum canopy cover threshold, based on the 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, is that there are around 50 thousand hectares of land with 10-20% canopy cover in the UK (or around 2% of the total UK woodland area).

Integral open space is included in woodland area figures derived from the National Forest Inventory if the areas of open space are less than 0.5 hectares; larger areas are mapped out and excluded from the woodland area figures. This differs slightly from the approach used for the National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, where areas of open space of up to 1.0 hectare were included as woodland.

Woodland includes native and non-native trees; semi-natural and plantation areas. Woodland habitat types are not currently differentiated in these statistics.

Most public sector woodland is owned by or managed by the Forestry Commission (FC) in England and Scotland, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in Wales, or the Forest Service (FS) in Northern Ireland. Woodland owned by local authorities, the Ministry of Defence, and other public sector bodies is included in "private sector woodland".

The Natural Resources Wales woodland areas and land areas shown in this release relate to areas previously owned or managed by Forestry Commission Wales. They exclude any areas previously owned or managed by other parts of Natural Resources Wales, such as the former Environment Agency in Wales and the former Countryside Council for Wales.

The following pages provide more detail on the data sources and methodology used to produce statistics on woodland area and planting. A quality report on Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking is available from our Quality web page. 11.1.1 Sources: Woodland area

Woodland Area

Data Sources and Methodology

Woodland Area

Data on woodland area in the UK presented in this release are derived from the following sources:

- Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales administrative records of FC/NRW land areas;
- National Forest Inventory (NFI) woodland map (GB);
- Statistics on new planting in Great Britain;
- Northern Ireland Woodland Register;
- Forest Service administrative records of FS woodland areas and
- Forest Service estimates of non-FS woodland area in Northern Ireland.

For Great Britain, the woodland areas at March 2014 provided in this release are based on the NFI woodland area map of Great Britain at March 2013. The map is overlaid with a map of Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales (ex Forestry Commission Wales only) land, to enable a breakdown by ownership type to be estimated. This also enables FC/NRW "other land" areas to be derived (Table 1.5). The woodland area figures estimated from these maps are then updated to March 2014 by adding areas of new planting in 2013-14. Initial estimates of conifer stocked area and broadleaved stocked area at March 2012, derived from NFI interim field survey results, were used to estimate the breakdown by type of woodland.

The methodology has been refined since Forestry Statistics 2011 to take account of revisions to the NFI woodland area map and the availability of initial results on stocked areas from the NFI field survey. Details of the changes and their potential impact on the figures are available in the "Methodology Note: Annual Woodland Area Estimates", available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/mnwoodarea.pdf

Further information on the methodology used by the National Forest Inventory and comparisons of results from the NFI and previous woodland area estimates is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

Figures for Northern Ireland (Forest Service and non-Forest Service woodland) are provided by the Forest Service (www.dardni.gov.uk/forestry). Woodland areas from 2012 to 2014 provided in this release have been obtained from the NI woodland register.

The NI woodland register is based on a combined dataset derived from fourteen individual datasets from statutory bodies including Forest Service, Land and Property Services, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and non statutory bodies which include Woodland Trust and National Trust. The minimum area of woodland that has been included in the register is 0.1 hectares.

The use of the NI woodland register has resulted in a step change in the non-Forest Service woodland areas reported for Northern Ireland. This should be interpreted as an improvement in the data reported, rather than an actual increase in woodland area.

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

Certified woodland area

Data on certified woodland areas are obtained from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and contact with individual land owners and managers. Some of the certified woodland has dual certification, i.e. it is certified under both the FSC scheme and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) scheme.

The data collected from FSC are the areas that are certified for each certificate holder. Follow-up enquiries are then made with larger certificate holders to check the certified areas and to provide a country breakdown. As all FC/NRW/FS woodlands are certified, the total woodland area (as derived above, from the NFI map and FC boundaries and from Forest Service administrative records) is used, rather than the area provided on the certificates.

**Quality**

The statistics on woodland area presented here refer to woodland as a land use rather than a land cover, so felled areas and newly planted areas are included within the definition of woodland. Some statistics on woodland area as a land cover are available from other sources (e.g. Countryside Survey 2007, www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk, and associated Land Cover Map).

Detailed information on the quality of the woodland area statistics presented in this publication is available in the "Quality Report: Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking" at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/qrwapr.pdf

Further quality information on FC Official Statistics is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

**Revisions**

Figures at March 2014 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2014 Edition".

The detailed woodland area breakdowns (by both ownership and forest type) have been refined since the publication of "Woodland Area, Planting and restocking: 2014 Edition".

As a result, in Table 1.1 (area of woodland by ownership & forest type):

- FC/NRW/FS broadleaves woodland area in the UK has been revised from 128 to 129 thousand hectares;
- Private sector broadleaves woodland area has been revised from 137 to 136 thousand hectares in Wales, from 330 to 328 thousand hectares in Scotland, and from 1404 to 1402 thousand hectares in the UK;
- Private sector conifers woodland area has been revised from 612 to 614 thousand hectares in Scotland and from 864 to 866 thousand hectares in the UK.

Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2014 Edition".

Information on significant revisions to published statistics is provided in the quality report on Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking, available from our Quality web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf

**Further information**

Accompanying tables to this release, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqknx, provide longer time series data by country for certified woodland.

Figures for woodland area in the UK are provided to international organisations; the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for the 5-yearly "Global Forest Resources Assessment" (www.fao.org/forestry/fra/en), and Forest Europe for the 4-yearly "State of Europe's Forests" (www.foresteurope.org/reporting_SFM). Latest UK figures in international reports, submitted in May 2009 (for the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010) and in August 2010 (for the State of Europe's Forests 2011), are based on data from the 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees (NIWT). The UK woodland area figures presented in the International Forestry chapter are based on these earlier, NIWT-based, estimates.

Figures for woodland area are also used to compile the UK's Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_ghg_inventories/national_inventories_submissions/items/7383.php). Summary factsheets, produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-greenhouse-gas-inventory-summary-factsheets.

**Release schedule**

Provisional figures for woodland area and certified woodland area at March 2015 will be published on 11 June 2015 in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2015 Edition".

Final results for woodland area and certified woodland area at March 2015 will be published on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.1.2 Sources: Woodland Inventories

Woodland Inventories

The current National Forest Inventory is the first continuous inventory of British woodlands and is being conducted on a five year cycle. Prior to the National Forest Inventory, a series of one-off woodland inventories took place in Great Britain every 15 years or so.

Most inventories used slightly different definitions of woodland, so some apparent changes in area over time are due to changing definitions. The principal differences for inventories since 1905 are:

- **1905** Felled areas and scrub were not included.
- **1924** Undertaken by questionnaire; woods smaller than 2 acres (0.8 hectares) were not included.
- **1947** Woodlands with an area of less than 5 acres (2 hectares) were not included.
- **1965** Woodlands with an area of less than 1 acre (0.4 hectares) were not included.
- **1980** Woodlands with an area of less than 0.25 hectares were not included.
- **1995-99** Woodlands with an area of 0.1-2 hectares were included on a sample basis; some woodland missing from earlier surveys was included.
- **2010 on** All woodlands with an area of 0.5 hectares or more have been included; all woodlands below 0.5 hectares have been excluded.

Estimates of woodland area prior to 1905 have been obtained from a variety of sources, including:

- Domesday Survey of England - for information in 1086;
- Scottish Woodland History (TC Smout ed, 1997) - for estimate for end Middle Ages in Scotland;
- Roy maps c1750 - for Scotland 17th Century estimate.

National Forest Inventory

In the latest inventory, a digital map based on aerial photography, satellite imagery and other data sources has been produced, from which estimates of total woodland areas have been derived. Data are currently being collected for one hectare sample squares, covering a wide variety of topics, including ownership type, species and age.

Initial results for 2010 were published for countries (Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland) in Spring 2011. Interim results, based on field survey data combined with information from the NFI map, have since been published on the National Forest Inventory web pages at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

National Inventory of Woodland and Trees

In the 1995-99 inventory, data were collected for one hectare squares, covering a wide variety of topics, include ownership type, species and age. The results were uprated to total woodland areas from a digital map based on aerial photography.

Results have been published for countries (Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland) and for more detailed geographical breakdowns (regions and counties).

Further details on the 1995-99 National Inventory of Woodland and Trees are available from www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5 11.1.3 Sources: New planting & restocking

New planting & restocking

Introduction

New planting is the creation of new areas of woodland. Restocking is the replanting of areas of woodland that have been felled. New planting can use planting/seeding or natural colonisation. Restocking can also use planting/seeding or natural regeneration.

Data sources and methodology

Information about Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service new planting and restocking comes from administrative systems. Information about other woodland has come principally from grant schemes, including the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS), Glastir in Wales, Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW), Rural Development Contracts in Scotland, Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme (SFGS) and Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS).

Areas receiving grant are allocated to years by date of payment. For natural colonisation and regeneration, the areas are generally those for which the second instalment of grant has been paid during the year. The second instalment is approved when woodland reaches a certain stage and density of growth, so this information corresponds approximately to the amount of new and restocked woodland created.

The coverage and level of grant support may differ across schemes, so that figures on grant-aided planting are not directly comparable between countries or over time. Grant support for restocking of conifers has changed with the introduction of Rural Development Contracts in Scotland in 2008. As a result, grant aid is no longer available for restocking with Sitka spruce in many cases. This is likely to have led to a reduction in areas of grant-aided restocking in Scotland.

Further information on current and closed grant schemes in Great Britain is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/planting.

Local estimates for private sector areas of planting and restocking which are not grant-aided are included for England, Wales and Scotland, where possible, but no estimates have been included for restocking of Sitka spruce in Scotland that is no longer supported by grants. Estimates of non-grant-aided planting and restocking are relatively small (less than one thousand hectares annually), and it has been assumed that all of this area is broadleaves. It is assumed that there is no non-FS non-grant aided new planting and restocking in Northern Ireland.

The use of natural regeneration in non-clearfell systems is increasing substantially - particularly for broadleaves in England. These systems are not satisfactorily represented by measuring restocking area within any given year, and so broadleaf planting is likely to be under-reported in this release and other statistics.

Figures for Northern Ireland (Forest Service and private sector woodland) are provided by the Forest Service (www.dardni.gov.uk/forestry).

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

Revisions

Figures for 2013-14 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2014 Edition".

Figures have not been revised from those provided in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2014 Edition". Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2014 Edition". Information on significant revisions to published statistics is provided in the quality report on Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking, available from our Quality web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf

**Further information**

Accompanying tables to this release, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqknx, provide longer time series data by country for new planting and restocking.

Figures for new planting are also used to compile the UK's Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_ghg_inventories/national_inventories_submissions/items/7383.php). Summary factsheets, produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-greenhouse-gas-inventory-summary-factsheets.

**Release schedule**

Provisional figures for new planting and restocking in 2014-15 will be published on 11 June 2015 in "Woodland Area, Planting and Restocking: 2015 Edition".

Final results for new planting and restocking in 2014-15 will be published on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.1.4 Sources: Felling

Felling

Introduction

Under the Forestry Act 1967, it is illegal to fell trees in Great Britain without prior approval, although there are a few exceptions (for trees below a specified size, dangerous trees, and very small scale felling operations). There is a presumption against removal of woodland and loss of forest cover in the UK, so felling licences issued under the Forestry Act will normally be conditional (where felling approval is granted subject to restocking). However, the permanent removal of trees may be granted (through an unconditional felling licence) for thinning woodland (a standard woodland management practice) or if there are overriding environmental considerations, for example to enable the restoration of important habitats (and consent may be required under the relevant Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations).

The removal of trees may also be authorised under planning regulations, to enable development (including for windfarms). In this case, a felling licence is not required.

The Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and the Forest Service may also require trees to be felled to prevent the spread of pests and diseases, by serving a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) on the affected site.

Data sources and methodology

Information about felling licences and Statutory Plant Health Notices comes from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales and Forest Service administrative systems.

Data on felling licences relates to felling licences that have been issued. It does not indicate whether the felling has taken place (and if so, when).

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

Quality

All of the statistics in this chapter are outside the scope of National Statistics.

Revisions

Figures on felling licences and Statutory Plant Health Notices for 2013-14 are released for this first time in this publication.

Figures on Statutory Plant Health Notices in 2010-11 and 2012-13 have been revised from those released in Forestry Statistics 2013.

In Table 1.16a, the number of sites where a Statutory Plant Health Notice has been served has been revised:

- In 2010-11: from 119 to 114 in England, from 9 to 10 in Northern Ireland;
- In 2012-13: from 163 to 166 in England, from 121 to 123 in Scotland, from 14 to 15 in Northern Ireland.

In Table 1.16b, the felling areas under Statutory Plant Health Notices have been revised:

- In 2010-11: from 1.1 to 1.2 thousand hectares in England;
- In 2012-13: from 0.3 to 0.4 thousand hectares in Scotland.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf Further information

Some related figures for England on felling licences and Statutory Plant Health Notices have been released. Data on the total area covered by felling licences (conditional and unconditional) and quarterly figures on the area of woodland to be felled under Statutory Plant Health Notices were released on 22 May 2014 in "Forestry Commission England Corporate Plan Performance Indicators and Woodland Indicators 2014". Figures on area of woodland to be felled under Statutory Plant Health Notices are also released in the quarterly "Forestry Commission England Headline Performance Reports".

Further information on felling licences (including details of exemptions) is available at:

- England - www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6dfk86
- Wales - http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/apply-and-buy/apply-for-a-tree-felling-licence/?lang=en
- Scotland - http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/supporting/grants-and-regulations/felling-licences

A new Case Management System was introduced in Scotland in January 2012. This will centralise the data collected on felling licences and provide more information about restocking proposals (including cases where the applicant has agreed to plant an alternative area, does not intend to restock or where open ground is being created) than has previously been gathered.

Further information on tree pests and diseases is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6abl5v

Release schedule

Figures on felling licences and Statutory Plant Health Notices in 2014-15 will be published on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015". 11.2 Sources: Timber

Introduction

This page provides high level information on the sources of the timber statistics presented in Chapter 2; more detailed information is provided on the following pages.

The chapter covers wood production (removals) from UK woodland, and consumption and production by primary wood processors in the UK. The timber statistics presented cover both softwood (wood from coniferous trees such as spruce, pine and larch) and hardwood (wood from non-coniferous trees such as oak, birch and beech). Please refer to the Glossary for an explanation of the terms used.

Quantities of wood can be expressed in different units. Conversion factors can be used to convert between units.

Data sources and methodology

Statistics on timber are obtained from a number of sources. For wood production (removals), data are compiled from:

- Forestry Commission (FC), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Forest Service (FS) administrative records of removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands;
- the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey for softwood removals from private sector woodlands and deliveries of hardwood to wood processing industries (see below) for total hardwood removals.

There is no source of data for hardwood removals from private sector woodlands, so these are estimated to be:

- deliveries of hardwood to wood processing industries (see below) less hardwood removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands.

Timber availability forecasts are obtained from the "50 year forecast of softwood availability" and the "50 year forecast of hardwood availability", released in April 2014 and available at www.forestry.gov.uk/inventory.

Deliveries are estimated from the following sources:

- the Sawmill Survey;
- the Wood Panel Industries Federation (for wood-based panels);
- the UK Forest Products Association (for integrated pulp and paper mills);
- the Confederation of Paper Industries (for paper production);
- the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers;
- the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey (for softwood deliveries to woodfuel);
- shavings manufacturers;
- companies believed to export roundwood and/or chips.

Estimates are also provided by the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5rabj3

The Methodology note: UK wood production sets out the data analysis methods used to produce annual estimates of UK wood production.

Quality

Detailed information on the quality of the statistics presented in this publication is available in the "Quality Report: UK Wood Production and Trade" at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ukwptqrpt.pdf

Further quality information on FC Official Statistics, including separate reports for each of the industry surveys used in this release, is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

Revisions

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have been previously published. They are however subject to revisions from those published in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures" and previous publications, to reflect late updates to administrative or survey data. Further details on any revisions made are provided in the following pages.

Information on significant revisions to published statistics is provided in the quality report on UK Wood Production and Trade, available from our Quality web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85.

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf

Further information

Most of these statistics are used to compile data that are sent to international organisations in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaires (JQ1 and JQ2), in some cases giving more detail than in this release. These returns are published as Official Statistics on the FC website; provisional figures in May and final figures in September. The statistics are used by Eurostat Forestry Statistics, UNECE Timber Bulletins, and UN/FAO Forest Product Statistics and are published on the FAOSTAT database (http://faostat.fao.org/). Summary results from the FAOSTAT database are provided in the International Forestry chapter.

The definitions used in this publication are consistent with the international definitions, as given in Eurostat’s "Forestry in the EU and the World 2011": http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-31-11-137/EN/KS-31-11-137-EN.PDF

The Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes an annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (www.gov.uk/government/collections/digest-of-uk-energy-statistics-dukes). Chapter 7 of this digest covers renewable sources of energy including wood. Figures for wood use in renewable energy statistics take into account wood from all sources (including processed wood, recycled wood and imports), not just UK-grown roundwood.

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.1 Sources: Wood production

Wood production

Sources

Figures on UK wood production (or removals) are compiled from a variety of sources:

- Forestry Commission (FC), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Forest Service (FS) administrative records - for all removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands;
- the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey - for softwood removals from private sector woodlands and
- statistics on deliveries - for total hardwood removals.

The compilation of data on wood production was extended in 2004 to include Northern Ireland.

These sources cover removals of roundwood (trunk and branch wood) only. A new survey was introduced in 2009 to collect data on removals of brash (branch wood and leaf material) and stumps (above-ground base part of trees). The collection of stump removals was discontinued in 2012.

The software used to record Forestry Commission sales has included some sales of mixed softwood and hardwood as softwood in previous years.

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

Methodology

Figures for removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands are converted from cubic metres (m³) to green tonnes using standard conversion factors. For total softwood figures, the results from the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey are combined with the data for FC/NRW/FS woodlands to produce total softwood removals.

For hardwood figures, the total hardwood removals are assumed to equal the total hardwood deliveries (obtained from industry surveys and industry associations; see subsequent pages for further information on these sources). Hardwood removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands are then subtracted to give an estimate of the amount of hardwood removed from private sector woodlands.

Softwood removals methodology change

The methodology used to estimate the quantity of UK softwood removals from private sector woodland was revised for the release of provisional 2011 estimates in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2011 provisional figures". Details of the change in methodology and its impact on the figures are available in the "Methodology Review of Softwood Removals from Non-FC/FS Woodland" paper, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/rem_methodology_rev2011-12.pdf

Revisions

Private sector softwood removals are subject to revision annually (see following page, on the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey). Removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands are not normally revised. Total hardwood removals (and consequently hardwood removals from private sector woodlands) are subject to annual revisions (see notes on deliveries for further information).

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures". Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: Further information

Figures are published as UK totals. Country breakdowns (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) are also published for softwood in table 2.2 for private sector removals and table 2.3 for FC/NRW/FS removals. Approximate country breakdowns are also estimated for hardwood removals.

Longer time series, presenting estimates of FC/NRW/FS and private sector removals by country and by softwood/hardwood are available from the Timber Statistics web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aq15b.

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.2 Sources: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey

Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey

Introduction

The Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey is an annual survey conducted by the Forestry Commission (in association with the Forest Service) of a sample of harvesting companies in the UK.

The survey, which previously covered harvesting companies in Great Britain only, was extended in 2004 to include harvesting companies in Northern Ireland. Figures for Northern Ireland in earlier years have therefore been estimated, based on responses to the 2004 survey.

Figures are published as UK totals and by country (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland).

Data collected

The questionnaire used for the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey (available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-94ujw2) is issued annually to around 30-40 harvesting companies, to collect information on:

- the quantity of softwood roundwood harvested from private sector woodlands in the UK in the current (latest) year and in the previous year;
- the quantity of softwood roundwood harvested from certified private sector woodlands and
- (from the 2008 survey) the quantity sold to bioenergy (including wood pellet manufacture).

Response rates

In 2013, the questionnaire was issued to 40 harvesting companies, of which 28 responded, giving a response rate of 70%. These respondents are estimated to account for around 96% of all the softwood harvested by companies covered by the survey.

Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey Response Rates, 2004-2013

| Year | Forms issued | Responses received | Response rate¹ | Weighted response rate² | |------|--------------|--------------------|----------------|-------------------------| | 2004 | 41 | 33 | 80% | .. | | 2005 | 40 | 28 | 70% | .. | | 2006 | 43 | 35 | 81% | .. | | 2007 | 43 | 34 | 79% | .. | | 2008 | 41 | 35 | 85% | 100% | | 2009 | 40 | 30 | 75% | 92% | | 2010 | 40 | 30 | 75% | 97% | | 2011 | 37 | 26 | 70% | 96% | | 2012 | 37 | 27 | 73% | 95% | | 2013 | 40 | 28 | 70% | 96% |

Notes:

1. Response rates are calculated as the number of responses received divided by the number of forms issued.

2. Weighted response rates have been calculated from the 2008 survey onwards. They are an estimate of the proportion of the softwood harvested by companies covered by the survey that is accounted for by respondents.

.. Denotes data not available. Methodology

A review of the methodology used to estimate total private sector softwood removals (including businesses not covered by the survey) was undertaken in 2011-2012.

The "Methodology Review of Softwood Removals from Non-FC/FS Woodland" paper presents the results from this review and the implications of the change in methodology. It can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/rem_methodology_rev2011-12.pdf.

In the new methodology, businesses not covered by the survey are assumed to represent 15% of the total softwood removals from private sector woodland. This fixed percentage is applied from 2006 onwards. The previous methodology is used for 2001 and earlier years, and a smooth transition is applied to the years 2002 to 2005 inclusive.

Quality

Detailed information on the survey quality is available in the "Quality Report: Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/qrremovsur.pdf.

Further quality information on FC Official Statistics is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

Revisions

Results from the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey may be revised between the provisional figures published in the First Release "UK Wood Production and Trade: provisional figures" and the final data published in "Forestry Facts & Figures" and "Forestry Statistics", to take account of late returns and the results of additional data quality checking procedures.

In order to use the most accurate information possible in estimating total private sector softwood removals, figures for non respondents in earlier years are estimated wherever possible, using their responses in previous and in subsequent years. This may cause the estimates for all previous years to be revised when new data are received from a former non-respondent. This process reduces the potential over-inflation of estimated removals which can be caused by harvesting companies tending to respond when removals have increased but being less likely to do so when their removals have reduced.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Some figures for 2010, 2011 and 2012 have been revised from those published in "Forestry Statistics 2013":

- In Table 2.28, the percentage of total softwood removals volume that is certified has been revised from 86% to 87% in 2010, 86% to 85% in 2011 and 85% to 84% in 2012.
- In Table 2.30, the woodfuel supplied by sawmills to bioenergy in 2012 has been revised from 545 to 540 thousand green tonnes.

Information on other revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.3 Sources: Sawmill Survey

Sawmill Survey

Introduction

The Sawmill Survey is an annual survey conducted by the Forestry Commission (in association with the Forest Service) of sawmills in the UK that are believed to use UK-grown logs. The survey comprises a short questionnaire (for smaller mills) and a detailed questionnaire (for larger mills).

The survey, which previously covered sawmills in Great Britain only, was extended in 2004 to include sawmills in Northern Ireland. Figures for Northern Ireland in earlier years have therefore been estimated, based on responses to the 2004 survey.

The detailed survey has changed over the years, both in terms of coverage and periodicity. For 1996 and earlier, detailed questionnaires were issued triennially to mills producing at least 1,000 m³ of sawnwood. From 1998 to 2004, the questionnaires were issued every two years to mills producing at least 5,000 m³ of sawnwood. From 2005, the detailed questionnaires have been issued annually, to mills producing at least 10,000 m³ of sawnwood.

Statistics reported for each year are limited to mills that are known to use UK roundwood, but also include any imported logs used by these mills.

Tables for softwood are broken down by country (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and by size of mill. Given the low number of sawmills using UK hardwood, tables for hardwood are presented at a total UK level only.

The number of active mills (those that produced sawnwood in the reporting year) is presented in tables 2.9 to 2.11.

Longer time series, providing data on numbers of mills and on softwood consumption and production are available from the Timber Statistics web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aql5b. The time series data feature breakdowns by size of mill, by country and by region (in England).

Data collected

Two questionnaires are used for the Sawmill Survey:

- a detailed questionnaire goes to around 50 mills that have annual production of at least 10,000 m³ of sawnwood, and
- a short questionnaire is sent to all other mills that are believed to use UK sawlogs (around 160 mills).

Both questionnaires collect information on:

- the consumption of UK and imported logs,
- the production of sawnwood,
- chain of custody certificates and certified timber,
- (from the 2006 survey) sales to bioenergy,
- (from the 2008 survey) sales as firewood and internal use for heat/energy,
- (from the 2010 survey) other products and
- (from the 2008 survey) total employment.

In addition, the detailed questionnaire also collects information on:

- the source of UK logs (England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland),
- sawnwood product markets,
- other products by type and destination and More information on the Sawmill Survey, including copies of the questionnaires sent to businesses in recent years, can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-94pgy5.

**Response rates**

In 2013, detailed questionnaires were issued to 50 mills, of which 34 responded, giving a response rate of 68%. For the short questionnaire, 49 responses were received from the 141 forms issued, corresponding to a 35% response rate. This gives an overall response rate of 43%.

Overall, the 83 sawmills responding to the sawmill survey in 2013 are estimated to account for around 80% of total UK sawnwood production.

### Sawmill Survey Response Rates (all questionnaires), 2004-2013

| Year | Forms issued | Responses received | Response rate | Weighted response rate | |------|--------------|--------------------|---------------|------------------------| | 2004 | 262 | 147 | 56% | .. | | 2005 | 257 | 143 | 56% | .. | | 2006 | 264 | 161 | 61% | .. | | 2007 | 243 | 149 | 61% | .. | | 2008 | 227 | 133 | 59% | 90% | | 2009 | 219 | 122 | 56% | 87% | | 2010 | 211 | 93 | 44% | 85% | | 2011 | 200 | 84 | 42% | 82% | | 2012 | 196 | 86 | 44% | 84% | | 2013 | 191 | 83 | 43% | 80% |

Notes:

1. Response rates are calculated as the number of responses received divided by the number of forms issued.
2. Weighted response rates have been calculated from the 2008 survey onwards. They are an estimate of the proportion of total UK sawnwood production that is accounted for by respondents.

.. Denotes data not available.

**Methodology**

Each year, figures for non respondents are estimated by rolling forward data from previous years for these mills. For larger mills, these estimates may be modified to take account of advice from the Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics.

**Time series data for the detailed sawmill survey**

From one year to another, some mills may have moved above or below the threshold for inclusion in the detailed sawmill survey. This may affect the trends over time in tables 2.17a to 2.20a.

The total volume of roundwood consumed and sawnwood and other products produced by sawmills covered by the detailed sawmill survey varies over time, so a change in the percentages shown in tables 2.17a to 2.19a does not necessarily reflect a change in volumes.

**Quality**

Detailed information on the survey quality is available in the "Quality Report: Sawmill Survey" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/qrsawsur.pdf/$FILE/qrsawsur.pdf Revisions

Results from the Sawmill Survey may be revised between the provisional figures published in the First Release "UK Wood Production and Trade: provisional figures" and the final data published in "Forestry Facts & Figures" and "Forestry Statistics" to take account of late returns and the results of additional data quality checking procedures.

All the main results (number of mills, consumption, production) are subject to revision annually, as information becomes available about mills opening or closing, or new information becomes available for previous non-respondents. The most common revisions are relatively small downward changes, but this can vary from year to year as special exercises are run to validate the survey population. Information about new mills opening can on occasion cause much larger upward revisions to softwood volumes. Results from the survey of larger mills, which provides more detailed information, may be revised to take account of new information for previous non-respondents.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures". Revisions are as follows:

- Softwood deliveries to sawmills in 2013 have been revised upwards from 6,371 to 6,407 thousand green tonnes (Tables 2.5 and 2.7).
- Softwood production in 2013 has been revised upwards from 3,525 to 3,536 thousand cubic metres (Table 2.7).

Some figures for earlier years have been revised from those published in "Forestry Statistics 2013":

- In Table 2.19a, direct employment in 2012 by larger sawmills of line & production workers has been revised from 2,557 to 2,573 full-time equivalents, of managerial & administrative staff from 423 to 426 FTEs, and of haulage of logs to the mill from 66 to 67 FTEs.
- In Table 7.2, total employment by all sawmills has been revised from 3,819 to 3,806 in 2009, from 4,146 to 4,108 in 2010, from 4,133 to 4,095 in 2011, and from 4,174 to 4,136 in 2012.

Information on other revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Further information

Figures for UK production and trade of sawn softwood are used alongside data from other sources to assess consumption of sawn softwood in the main end-user markets in the UK. Reports are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7fgkh4.

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.4 Sources: Pulp & paper

Pulp & paper

Introduction

Data on the pulp and paper sector are obtained from two sources:

- The UK Forest Products Association (UKFPA, www.ukfpa.co.uk) provides figures on inputs to the integrated pulp and paper mills and
- the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI, www.paper.org.uk) provides figures on total UK pulp and paper production.

Integrated pulp and paper mills are paper mills that use UK roundwood to produce pulp (an intermediate product in the production of paper). Inputs for other paper mills are not covered in the input statistics reported. The figures for production cover all UK paper mills.

Figures are available at a total UK level only.

Data collected

The data collected on inputs cover the type of input (roundwood, sawmill products) and the type of wood (softwood, hardwood).

Production data covers wood pulp (mechanical or semi-chemical), recovered fibre pulp and paper & paperboard. Paper & paperboard production are available for the following categories: graphic papers, sanitary & household papers, packaging materials and other paper & paperboard. Data are also collected on UK "production" of waste paper, which is the amount recovered from the UK for re-use in the UK or for export.

From 2008, total employment at integrated pulp and paper mills is also requested, to complement the data collected on this topic from other primary wood processors.

Methodology

The data on inputs to integrated pulp and paper mills are collected by the UKFPA from all such mills in the UK. The number of integrated pulp and paper mills has fallen over recent years and currently stands at 2.

The CPI collects production and raw material data from members and non-members, which accounts for the majority of UK production. The remainder is estimated by CPI using a variety of sources.

Revisions

The statistics on pulp and paper are not normally revised after publication. On occasion, a provisional figure or estimate may be published, and replaced by the actual figure in a subsequent publication.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures". Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures". Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.5 Sources: Wood-based panels

Wood-based panels

Introduction

Data on the wood-based panel sector are obtained from the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF, www.wpif.org.uk) and cover all wood-based panel mills in the UK.

Statistics reported for each year are available at a UK level only.

Data collected

Data are collected on inputs and on production.

The data collected on inputs covers the type of input (roundwood, sawmill products, imports, recycled wood fibre) and the type of wood (softwood, hardwood).

Production data covers all types of wood-based panels made in the UK, which currently comprises particleboard (including oriented strand board) and fibreboard (medium density fibreboard). UK production of hardboard (another type of fibreboard) ended in the UK in 1999 and production of plywood ended in 2000.

From 2008, total employment is also requested, to complement the data being collected on this topic from other primary wood processors.

Methodology

The data on wood-based panels are collected by the WPIF, which represents all UK wood panel manufacturers. Figures on wood consumption are collected annually. Production data (excluding waste and rejects) are derived from quarterly returns. Response rates in recent years have been 100%.

Revisions

The statistics on wood-based panels are not normally revised after publication. On occasion, a provisional figure or estimate may be published, and replaced by the actual figure in a subsequent publication.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those in "Forestry Statistics 2013".

Release schedule

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.6 Sources: Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers

Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers

Introduction

The Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers is an annual survey conducted by the Forestry Commission (in association with the Forest Service) of round fencing manufacturers (or mills) in the UK that are believed to consume UK-grown roundwood.

The survey, which previously covered mills in Great Britain only, was extended in 2004 to include those in Northern Ireland. Figures for Northern Ireland in earlier years have therefore been estimated, based on responses to the 2004 survey.

Figures are published as UK totals and by size of mill.

Longer time series, providing data on numbers of mills and on softwood consumption are available from the Timber Statistics web page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aql5b. The time series data feature breakdowns by size of mill and by country.

Data collected

The questionnaire used for the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers is issued to around 70 mills, to collect information on the consumption of UK-grown and (from 2006) imported roundwood. In 2008, the survey was extended to cover woodfuel quantities (sales to bioenergy, sales as firewood and internal use for heat/energy) and total employment. In 2010, the survey was further extended to request data on production of round fencing and other products. A breakdown of the country of origin (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) for UK-grown roundwood is also requested.

More information on the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers, including copies of the questionnaires sent to businesses in recent years, can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-94uk7h.

Response rates

In 2013, the questionnaire was issued to 67 mills, of which 27 responded, giving a response rate of 40%. These respondents accounted for an estimated 51% of roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers.

Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers Response Rates, 2004-2013

| Year | Forms issued | Responses received | Response rate¹ | Weighed response rate² | |------|--------------|--------------------|----------------|------------------------| | 2004 | 107 | 67 | 63% | .. | | 2005 | 103 | 60 | 58% | .. | | 2006 | 109 | 61 | 56% | .. | | 2007 | 103 | 67 | 65% | .. | | 2008 | 87 | 55 | 63% | 88% | | 2009 | 82 | 42 | 51% | 56% | | 2010 | 79 | 34 | 43% | 46% | | 2011 | 72 | 26 | 36% | 58% | | 2012 | 68 | 26 | 38% | 53% | | 2013 | 67 | 27 | 40% | 51% |

Notes:

1. Response rates are calculated as the number of responses received divided by the number of forms issued.
2. Weighted response rates have been calculated from the 2008 survey onwards. They are an estimate of the proportion of total roundwood purchased by softwood round fencing manufacturers that is accounted for by respondents.

.. Denotes data not available.

**Methodology**

Each year, figures for non respondents are estimated by rolling forward data from previous years for these mills.

**Quality**

Detailed information on the survey quality is available in the "Quality Report: Private Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/qrfensur.pdf.

Further quality information on FC Official Statistics is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

**Revisions**

Results from the Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers may be revised between the provisional figures published in the First Release "UK Wood Production and Trade: provisional figures" and the final data published in "Forestry Facts & Figures" and "Forestry Statistics" to take account of late returns and the results of additional data quality checking procedures.

All figures are subject to revision annually, as information becomes available about mills opening or closing, or new information becomes available for previous non-respondents. Such revisions are generally quite small.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

In Table 7.2, total employment by fencing mills has been revised from 369 to 405 full-time equivalents in 2009, from 360 to 396 FTEs in 2010, from 361 to 397 FTEs in 2011, and from 334 to 370 FTEs in 2012, from the figures published in "Forestry Statistics 2013".

Information on other revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

**Release schedule**

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.7 Sources: Other deliveries

Other deliveries

Introduction

Data on other deliveries comprise the following:

- shavings - mainly obtained from shavings manufacturers;
- woodfuel - private sector softwood removals survey, woodfuel suppliers and Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates;
- hardwood round fencing - Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates;
- other miscellaneous products - Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates and
- exports of roundwood and chips - companies believed to export roundwood and/or chips and Forest Service (for exports from Northern Ireland).

The figures, which previously covered Great Britain only, were extended in 2004 to include Northern Ireland. Figures for exports prior to 2004 relate to Great Britain only.

Statistics reported for each year are available at a UK level only.

Data collected

The data collected on shavings, woodfuel and other miscellaneous products cover the quantity of roundwood only.

Data collected on exports covers industrial roundwood (excluding sawlogs), logs and chips. For 2004 and earlier years, these figures were provided by the UK Forest Products Association (UKFPA, www.ukfpa.co.uk).

Methodology

For shavings, data are collected from the main companies known to produce shavings. In addition, a small estimate is made to cover other shavings manufacturers.

There are currently no reliable sources for data on hardwood round fencing and other miscellaneous products. As a result, estimates (that are rarely changed) are made by the Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics to attempt to take account of these other uses of UK roundwood.

The estimate for hardwood used for woodfuel was revised in 2005 to reflect a perceived increase in woodfuel, but this should not be interpreted as an increase in a single year. From 2007, an estimate of roundwood use for biomass energy was included in the woodfuel figures, based on data reported by suppliers and Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates. In 2008, the private sector softwood removals survey was extended to ask how much of the removals reported were believed to be for woodfuel use. Estimates of softwood used for woodfuel for recent years are therefore considered to be more reliable than those for earlier years.

For exports, data are requested from companies believed to have exported roundwood or chips in the last year. Forest Service provides data on behalf of companies exporting from Northern Ireland. If required, a small estimate is made for any non respondents or to cover other companies that may have exported roundwood during the year.

Revisions

Figures for deliveries of softwood for woodfuel may be revised whenever revisions are made to the Private Sector Softwood Removals Survey.

The statistics on other deliveries are not normally revised after publication. On occasion, an estimate may be revised in a subsequent publication, to take account of expert advice on perceived changes in the market for The quality report on UK Wood Production and Trade provides further information, including details of significant revisions to published statistics and is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 earlier years have not been revised from those in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

**Release schedule**

Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.8 Sources: Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood

Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood

The table below provides a comparison between the figures for removals (obtained from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service and Private Sector Removals Survey) and deliveries (obtained from industry surveys and trade associations) of UK softwood roundwood.

Comparison of removals and deliveries of UK softwood roundwood, 2004-2013

| Year | FC/ NRW/ FS removals | Private sector removals | Total removals | Deliveries | Balance¹ | |------|----------------------|-------------------------|----------------|------------|----------| | | thousand green tonnes| | | | | | 2004 | 4 894 | 3 246 | 8 141 | 8 021 | 119 | | 2005 | 4 579 | 3 499 | 8 077 | 8 143 | -66 | | 2006 | 4 582 | 3 661 | 8 243 | 8 187 | 56 | | 2007 | 4 653 | 4 083 | 8 736 | 8 790 | -54 | | 2008 | 4 415 | 3 823 | 8 238 | 8 187 | 51 | | 2009 | 5 126 | 3 266 | 8 392 | 8 304 | 88 | | 2010 | 4 625 | 4 633 | 9 258 | 9 269 | -11 | | 2011 | 4 870 | 5 186 | 10 056 | 9 722 | 334 | | 2012 | 4 836 | 5 259 | 10 095 | 9 831 | 265 | | 2013 | 5 084 | 5 856 | 10 940 | 10 548 | 393 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations

Notes:

1. The difference between reported removals and deliveries can be caused by variations in the level of stocks between harvesting and delivery to the wood processor, and/or by the differences in data sources and methodologies used to compile removals and deliveries statistics.

The methodology used to estimate the quantity of UK softwood removals from private woodland was revised for the release of provisional 2011 estimates in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2011 provisional figures". Details of the change in methodology and its impact on the figures are available in the "Methodology Review of Softwood Removals from Non-FC/FS Woodland" paper, available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/rem_methodology_rev2011-12.pdf/$FILE/rem_methodology_rev2011-12.pdf 11.2.9 Sources: Estimation of hardwood removals from private sector woodlands

Estimation of hardwood removals from private sector woodlands

Figures for hardwood removals from private sector woodlands are derived from total hardwood deliveries (obtained from industry surveys and trade associations) less hardwood removals from FC/NRW/FS woodlands. The table below provides figures for the last 10 years.

| Year | Deliveries | FC/ NRW/ FS removals | Private sector removals | |------|------------|-----------------------|-------------------------| | 2004 | 513 | 113 | 399 | | 2005 | 593 | 101 | 492 | | 2006 | 438 | 45 | 392 | | 2007 | 440 | 40 | 400 | | 2008 | 431 | 43 | 388 | | 2009 | 536 | 87 | 449 | | 2010 | 535 | 70 | 465 | | 2011 | 541 | 75 | 465 | | 2012 | 532 | 55 | 478 | | 2013 | 529 | 79 | 451 |

Source: Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Forest Service, industry surveys, industry associations 11.2.10 Sources: Woodfuel and pellets

Woodfuel and pellets

Introduction

Data on woodfuel have been obtained from the following sources:

- Sawmill survey and survey of round fencing manufacturers;
- Private sector softwood removals survey and woodfuel suppliers;
- Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics estimates.

Estimates of the quantity of recycled wood used for woodfuel are produced by the Wood Recyclers' Association (www.woodrecyclers.org).

Data on UK pellet production are obtained from the survey of UK pellet and briquette production.

For details on roundwood deliveries for woodfuel, see the Sources: other deliveries page.

Figures are published as UK totals.

Data collected

The sawmill survey and survey of round fencing manufacturers included questions asking for the quantity of woodfuel:

- sold to bioenergy,
- sold as firewood and
- used internally for heat/energy.

All 3 questions have been included in the detailed sawmill survey (sent to sawmills believed to produce at least 10 thousand m³ sawnwood annually) for some time. The sawmill survey (for smaller mills) was extended in the 2006 survey to cover quantities sold to bioenergy and again in the 2008 survey to cover firewood sales and use for heat/energy. All three questions were included in the round fencing survey for the first time in 2008.

The survey of UK pellet and briquette production was run for the first time for the collection of 2009 data. The questionnaire asks for data on the total quantity of pellets and briquettes produced, the source of fibres used, the origin of wood used and product markets.

More information on the survey of UK pellet and briquette production, including copies of the questionnaires sent to businesses in recent years, can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-94ukb2.

Response rates

Response rates for the sawmill survey and survey of round fencing manufacturers are available on the relevant sources pages.

The 2013 survey of UK pellet and briquette production was sent to a total of 18 companies that were believed to manufacture pellets or briquettes. A total of 8 responded, giving a response rate of 44%. The respondents to the survey are estimated to account for around 91% of the total production of pellets and briquettes in the UK in 2013.

Whilst the low response rates to this survey are of some concern, it is believed that many of the non-respondents are not (currently) producing pellets or briquettes. This is reflected in the much higher weighted response rates and the figures produced are believed to give a reasonable estimate of the true level of UK pellet production. Survey of UK Pellet & Briquette Production Response Rates, 2009-2013

| Year | Forms issued | Response received | Response rate¹ | Weighted Response rate² | |------|--------------|-------------------|----------------|-------------------------| | 2009 | 33 | 17 | 52% | 89% | | 2010 | 27 | 12 | 44% | 95% | | 2011 | 22 | 10 | 45% | 92% | | 2012 | 21 | 5 | 24% | 75% | | 2013 | 18 | 8 | 44% | 91% |

Notes:

1. Response rates are calculated as the number of responses received divided by the number of forms issued.
2. Weighted response rates are an estimate of the proportion of total UK pellet and briquette production that is accounted for by respondents.

Methodology

Details of the methodology used for the sawmill survey and survey of round fencing manufacturers are available on the relevant sources pages.

For the survey of UK pellet and briquette production, estimates were made for non respondents using results from previous surveys (including the 2008 woodfuel suppliers survey) and expert advice.

Quality

Detailed information on the pellet survey quality is available in the "Quality Report: Survey of UK Pellet & Briquette Production" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ukpelletqrpt.pdf/$FILE/ukpelletqrpt.pdf.

Further quality information on FC Official Statistics is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7zhk85

Revisions

All figures are subject to revision annually, as new information becomes available.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Figures for 2013 and earlier years have not been revised from those provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Further information

Figures for Woodfuel Demand and Usage in Scotland, covering actual and potential use of woodfuel in the commercial, industrial and electrical energy sectors, are produced annually by Forestry Commission Scotland and available at http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/supporting/strategy-policy-guidance/climate-change-renewable-energy/woodfuel-and-bio-energy.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes an annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (www.gov.uk/government/collections/digest-of-uk-energy-statistics-dukes). Chapter 7 of this digest covers renewable sources of energy including wood. Figures for wood use in renewable energy statistics take into account wood from all sources (including processed wood, recycled wood and imports), not just UK-grown roundwood.

Release schedule Provisional figures for 2014 will be released on 14 May 2015 in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures".

Final figures for 2014 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015". 11.2.11 Sources: Conversion factors

Conversion factors between cubic metres and green tonnes

The following factors have been used in Chapter 2 (Timber) to convert between cubic metres (m³) and green tonnes:

The following factors have been used in Chapter 3 (Trade) to convert between cubic metres (m³) and metric tonnes:

Conversion factors between cubic metres and metric tonnes

| Product | m³ / tonne | |---------------------------------------------------|------------| | Fuelwood, including wood for charcoal | 1.38 | | Wood chips, sawdust, etc | 1.48 | | Industrial roundwood (wood in the rough) - softwood| 1.43 | | Industrial roundwood (wood in the rough) - hardwood| 1.25 | | Sawnwood - softwood | 1.82 | | Sawnwood - hardwood | 1.43 | | Veneer sheets | 1.33 | | Plywood, particleboard | 1.54 | | Hardboard | 1.053 | | MDF (medium density fibreboard) | 1.667 | | Insulating board - density 0.35-0.5 g/cm³ | 1.667 | | Insulating board - other | 4.00 |

The following factors have been used in Chapter 3 (Trade) where required to convert to wood raw material equivalent, which indicates the volume of wood (in m³ underbark) needed to produce one unit of a final product:

Conversion factors to Wood Raw Material Equivalent (wrme) underbark | Product | Measurement unit | Factor to wrme underbark | |----------------------------------------------|------------------|--------------------------| | Fuelwood | tonnes | 1.20 | | Wood charcoal | tonnes | 6.00 | | Chips, sawdust, etc | tonnes | 1.20 | | Industrial roundwood (rough, treated) | m³ | 1.10 | | Industrial roundwood (in the rough) | m³ | 1.00 | | Sleepers | m³ | 1.58 | | Softwood sawnwood | m³ | 2.00 | | Hardwood sawnwood | tonnes | 2.50 | | Wastepaper | tonnes | 2.80 | | Mechanical pulp | tonnes | 2.50 | | Chemical dissolving pulp | tonnes | 2.50 | | Sulphate pulp, unbleached | tonnes | 6.00 | | Sulphate pulp, bleached | tonnes | 4.50 | | Sulphite pulp | tonnes | 5.00 | | Semi-chemical woodpulp | tonnes | 2.75 | | Veneer (< 6mm) | tonnes | 3.45 | | Other wood-based panels | tonnes | 2.50 | | Woodwool, woodflour | tonnes | 1.70 | | Packing cases, pallets | tonnes | 2.00 | | Other manufactured wood | tonnes | 2.50 | | Newsprint | tonnes | 2.80 | | Writing & printing paper, uncoated | tonnes | 3.50 | | Other paper & paperboard | tonnes | 2.50 |

Notes:

1. A revised set of figures was produced in FC Technical Paper 19, "Revised Forecasts of the Supply and Demand for Wood in the UK" (Forestry Commission, 1996), but these have not been used in this publication. 11.3 Sources: Trade

Introduction

Statistics on imports and exports are based on the published overseas trade statistics for intra-EU trade and extra-EU trade produced by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and available at www.uktradeinfo.com

Data on apparent consumption is derived as UK production plus imports less exports.

Data Sources and Methodology

The data obtained from HMRC cover quantities (weights and volumes) and values of wood and wood products imported to and exported from the UK. Data are compiled for the following products:

- roundwood - woodfuel, industrial roundwood;
- wood charcoal;
- wood pellets;
- wood chips, particles and residues;
- sawnwood;
- wood-based panels - veneer sheets, plywood, particleboard, fibreboard;
- pulp - wood pulp, other pulp;
- recovered paper;
- paper & paperboard - graphic papers (including newsprint), sanitary & household papers, packaging materials, other paper & paperboard.

For roundwood, sawnwood and wood-based panels, a softwood/hardwood breakdown is available.

Data are also obtained by country of origin (for imports) and destination country (for exports).

For consistency with timber deliveries data, roundwood and wood chip exports figures are replaced by those compiled from companies believed to export roundwood and/or chips. For Northern Ireland, figures are provided by the Forest Service.

Where the HMRC reporting units for quantity differ from those shown in this publication, figures are adjusted using standard FAO/ECE conversion factors, which are listed in the Timber section of the Sources chapter.

The figures may also be adjusted where an apparent inconsistency in the UK trade figures cannot be resolved before the international return is required.

Historically, HMRC wood trade figures have often necessitated adjustments, following liaison with practitioners in the trade (including the Expert Group on Timber and Trade Statistics, Wood Panel Industries Federation (www.wpif.org.uk) and Confederation of Paper Industries (www.paper.org.uk)). This is partly because detailed intra-EU wood trade data is obtained through a survey of businesses that trade above a particular value threshold. Businesses that trade below this threshold are only required to report the total value of their imports and exports. Therefore the trade data reported in this publication for individual products is based on a potentially biased survey. More information on HMRC statistics can be found at www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/Statistics.aspx

The Methodology note: UK wood imports and exports sets out the data analysis methods used to produce annual estimates of UK wood imports and exports.

Quality

Detailed information on the quality of the trade statistics presented in this publication is available in the "Quality Report: UK Wood Production and Trade" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ukwptqrpt.pdf/$FILE/ukwptqrpt.pdf Revisions

Statistics on imports and exports are subject to revision after publication if revisions are made to the overseas trade statistics produced by HMRC. Figures may also be refined to take account of expert advice from the Expert Group on Timber & Trade Statistics and trade associations on the trade in specific products.

Figures for 2013 are final; provisional figures were previously released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures", available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ukwpt14.pdf/$FILE/ukwpt14.pdf

Revisions have been made to some of the 2013 figures:

- UK import quantities of sawnwood have been revised from 5,500 to 5,494 thousand m3, and of wood-based panels from 2,962 to 2,963 thousand m3 (Table 3.4).
- UK export quantities of sawnwood have been revised from 167 to 164 thousand m3 (Table 3.5).
- UK import values of sawnwood have been revised from £1,181 to £1,179 million, of wood-based panels from £876 to £874 million, of other wood from £85 to £87 million (Table 3.6).

Information on revisions made since "Forestry Statistics 2013" are provided in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2013 provisional figures".

Information on significant revisions to published statistics is available in the "Quality Report: UK Wood Production and Trade" at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ukwptqrpt.pdf/$FILE/ukwptqrpt.pdf

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf

Further information

Most of these statistics are used to compile data that are sent to international organisations in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaires (JQ1 and JQ2), in some cases giving more detail than in this release. These returns are published as Official Statistics on the FC website; provisional figures in May and final figures in September. The statistics are used by Eurostat Forestry Statistics, UNECE Timber Bulletins, and UN/FAO Forest Product Statistics and are published on the FAOSTAT database (http://faostat.fao.org).

A summary of the international statistics available from the FAOSTAT website are presented in the chapter on International Forestry. For more information, please refer to the International Forestry section of the Sources chapter.

The definitions used in this publication are consistent with the international definitions, as given in Eurostat’s "Forestry in the EU and the World 2011": http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-31-11-137/EN/KS-31-11-137-EN.PDF

Figures for UK production and trade of sawn softwood are used alongside data from other sources to assess consumption of sawn softwood in the main end-user markets in the UK. Reports are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7fgkh4.

Release schedule

Provisional trade figures for 2014 will be released in "UK Wood Production and Trade: 2014 provisional figures" on 14 May 2015.

Final trade figures for 2014 will be released in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" on 24 September 2015. 11.4 Sources: UK Forests and Climate Change

Introduction

Forests can help mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide, using the carbon to produce sugars for tree growth and releasing the oxygen back into the air. As trees grow, they store carbon in their leaves, twigs and trunk, and in the soil around them.

Globally, deforestation caused by the unsustainable harvesting of timber and the conversion of forests to other land uses accounts for almost 20 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The amount of carbon stored can be increased by actions to reduce the amount of deforestation and to convert non-forested areas to forest. Forests can be managed as a sustainable source of wood – an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, and a low-energy construction material.

Woodlands can also help society adapt to a changing climate, by reducing the risk of flooding, providing shade for wildlife, reducing soil erosion and helping to cool down towns and cities.

Data sources and methodology

Carbon cycle

The diagram showing the carbon cycle is adapted from Figure 3 of Broadmeadow and Matthews (2003).

Forest carbon stock

Table 4.1 is adapted from Table 3e in the final UK report submitted in August 2014 to FAO for the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2015 (www.fao.org/forestry/fra/76871/en).

Units: This table is shown in million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) rather than million tonnes carbon (MtC). To convert from CO₂e to C multiply by 12/44.

Timescales: Carbon stock is estimated for 1990, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015.

Living biomass: Carbon in living biomass is based on data from "NFI report: Carbon in live woodland trees in Britain" (Forestry Commission, May 2014), uprated from GB to UK estimates based on estimated volumes of growing stock. A "root to shoot ratio" (below ground biomass = 0.36 x above ground biomass) is used to estimate the breakdown between above- and below- ground biomass (Levy et al, 2004).

Deadwood: Consistent with Morison et al (2012), estimates of deadwood volume per hectare are taken from Gilbert (2007). These are rated up by woodland area estimates for FRA 2015, assuming a density of 0.45 ODT/m³, and an average carbon content of 50% is applied.

Litter: Estimates of the carbon content of the litter layer are available from Morison et al (2012). These are rated up by woodland area estimates for FRA 2015 to provide a consistent time series.

Soil carbon: Estimates of the carbon content of soil 0-100 cm for England, Wales and Scotland are available from Morison et al (2012). An estimate of the carbon content of soil for Northern Ireland is taken from Bradley et al (2005) and rated downward to reflect the generally lower carbon content found in Morison et al (2012). The soil carbon estimates are then rated up by woodland area estimates for FRA 2015 to provide a consistent time series. This soil estimate does not take account of soil carbon accumulation. This was previously included from estimates made by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in "Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry" (LULUCF) modelling. It also assumes that the soil carbon content of afforested (and previously unwooded) land has the same soil carbon content as woodland soils, whereas in practice this may vary.

Comparison with other data sources: Figures in this updated table are broadly similar to the estimates made in Morison et al (2012).

**Future updates:** This table will be updated once further information is available from the National Forest Inventory.

**Carbon sequestration**

The information in Table 4.2 is taken from inventory and projections of UK emissions by sources and removal by sinks due to land use, land use change and forestry, produced by CEH for input to 2012 UK Greenhouse Gas emissions final figures (DECC, March 2014) and the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI, http://naei.defra.gov.uk) which incorporates all air pollutants including greenhouse gases. They exclude the pool of carbon in timber products.

Figure 4.2 shows annual estimates of carbon accumulation by country, taken from the same source but shows carbon in living forest biomass only; it excludes carbon in litter, soils and forest products. Future predictions of carbon uptake assume that commercial conifer plantations will be replanted when felled, and that planting of new woodland will continue at the same rate as in 2012 (mid projection).

The carbon sequestration estimates presented in Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2 differ significantly from those published in "Forestry Statistics 2013", due to changes in the data and model used by CEH. For more information, please refer to the CEH "UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990 to 2012: Annual Report for submission under the Framework Convention on Climate Change" (http://naei.defra.gov.uk/reports/reports?report_id=789) and "Projections of emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector to 2050" (http://naei.defra.gov.uk/reports/reports?report_id=798).

Emissions and sequestration can be presented as tonnes carbon or tonnes carbon dioxide (CO₂). To convert from tonnes CO₂ to tonnes carbon multiply by 12/44.

**Woodland Carbon Code**

The Woodland Carbon Code is a voluntary standard, initiated in July 2011, for woodland creation projects that make claims about the carbon they sequester (take out of the atmosphere). All projects must be placed on the UK Woodland Carbon Registry. Their claims about potential carbon sequestration are validated by an independent certification body. Validated projects are then verified on a regular basis to confirm the progress of carbon sequestration.

Information about Woodland Carbon Code projects comes from the UK Woodland Carbon Registry, housed on the Markit Environmental Registry (www.markit.com/product/registry). The register is a live database and summary data are extracted on a quarterly basis.

Further information on the Woodland Carbon Code is available at: www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode

Further information on administrative sources can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

**Public opinion on climate change**

Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys have been run every 2 years by the Forestry Commission. The surveys cover public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues. The surveys included 2 questions on climate change: one asking about ways in which forests and woodlands can impact on climate change (Figure 4.4) and one asking about how UK forests should be managed in response to the threat of climate change. Further information on the surveys is available in the Sources: Public Opinion of Forestry page.

**References**

Bradley, R.I., Milne, R., Bell, J., Lilly, A., Jordan, C., Higgins, A. (2005) "A soil carbon and landuse database for the UK", Soil Use and Management 21 (363-369), DOI: 10.1079/SUM2005351 Quality

All of the statistics in this chapter are outside the scope of National Statistics, but are included here to give a broad indication of the role of UK forests in climate change.

Revisions

Statistics on UK forests and climate change obtained from others are subject to revision whenever the source data are revised.

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf.

Release schedule

For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

"Woodland Carbon Code Statistics: data to September 2014" will be released on 9 October 2014.

"Woodland Carbon Code Statistics: data to December 2014" will be released on 15 January 2015.

"Woodland Carbon Code Statistics: data to March 2015" will be released on 9 April 2015.

"Woodland Carbon Code Statistics: data to June 2015" will be released on 14 July 2015.

"Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" will be released on 24 September 2015.

UK data for the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 will be released on 30 October 2014.

The next Public Opinion of Forestry Survey is expected to run in early 2015, with results available in summer 2015. 11.5 Sources: Environment

Introduction

The statistics presented in the Environment chapter of this release cover:

- populations of wild birds;
- woodland vegetation;
- public opinion on tree health; and
- woodland fires.

Woodland fires

Wildfires, including woodland fires, are uncontrolled vegetation fires. Although they can start naturally, the majority are caused by people, either accidentally or deliberately.

Wildfires can impact on transport network and power lines; damage property and businesses; affect tourism and recreation; and threaten people's lives. They also damage the natural and historic environment and release carbon dioxide stored in vegetation and soils which contributes to climate change.

Despite woodland wildfires making up a relatively small proportion of all wildfire incidents in the UK, their impacts can be disproportionately large and costly to society. Destructive wildfire events are predicted to increase in frequency in the UK due to increased land-use pressure and climate change.

Data sources and methodology

Populations of wild birds

Population indices for wild birds are a framework indicator for sustainable development. The data published here are based on those published in the Wild bird populations in the UK, 1970-2012 statistical release (Defra, October 2013), rescaled here to give year 2000 = 100 instead of year 1970 = 100.

The index for woodland specialists was recalculated in 2007 to include 4 additional species; this affected the indices for total woodland birds and (to a lesser extent) all birds.

Woodland vegetation

Figures showing the overall condition and richness of flora in woodland are derived from data collected by the Countryside Survey in 2007 and previous surveys in 1998 and 1990. Results were published in late 2008 (www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk).

Please refer to the Countryside Survey website for an explanation of the vegetation richness and condition scores.

No similar samples were taken in the Northern Ireland Countryside Survey.

Public opinion on tree health

Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys have been run every 2 years by the Forestry Commission. The surveys cover public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues. A question asking about tree health was included for the first time in the 2013 surveys (Figure 5.2). Further information on the surveys is available in the Sources: Public Opinion of Forestry page.

Woodland fires

Information about wildfires comes from the Incident Recording System (IRS), reported by Fire and Rescue Services and submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government, Scottish Government and Welsh Government.

Information on woodland areas has been obtained from the National Forest Inventory woodland map. Further details on the definition of woodland and the coverage of the National Forest Inventory are provided in the Woodland Area and Planting section of the Sources chapter.

A spatial (GIS) analysis has been undertaken to identify fires that occurred in woodlands, as defined by the National Forest Inventory.

References

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2013) "Wild bird populations in the UK, 1970-2012", National Statistics Release (www.gov.uk/government/publications/wild-bird-populations-in-the-uk).

Department for Communities and Local Government (2014) "Fire Statistics Great Britain 2012 to 2013", National Statistics Release (www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics-great-britain)

Quality

Limited data are currently available on the environmental aspects of woodlands. Other than Wild Bird Populations, all of the statistics in this chapter are outside the scope of National Statistics, but are included here to give a broad indication of the woodland environment.

Previous editions of Forestry Statistics included data on ancient and semi-natural woodland and protected areas. However, as estimates have not been updated for some time, these tables have been dropped from this edition.

Revisions

Statistics on the environment obtained from others are subject to revision whenever the source data are revised.

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf

Release schedule

For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

The next Public Opinion of Forestry survey is expected to run in early 2015, with results available in summer 2015.

"Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" will be released on 24 September 2015. 11.6 Sources: Public Opinion of Forestry

Introduction

The Forestry Commission has conducted similar surveys of public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues every two years since 1995. Three separate surveys were undertaken in 2013; in Scotland, Wales and across the UK as a whole. A survey for Northern Ireland was most recently carried out in 2014.

Some questions were asked in all of the surveys conducted in 2013/2014 and in the surveys undertaken in earlier years, but an increasing number are survey specific. Questions are asked on a variety of topics including, public awareness of forestry, woodland-based recreation and community involvement, woodfuel and the relationship between forestry and climate change. A new topic, tree health, was introduced in the 2013/2014 surveys.

Data Sources and Methodology

The survey results were obtained by placing questions in omnibus surveys run by private market research companies. The four surveys undertaken in 2013/2014 achieved representative samples of around:

- 2,000 adults across the UK
- 1,000 adults across Scotland
- 1,000 adults across Wales
- 1,000 adults across Northern Ireland

All of the surveys use quota sampling to ensure that the sample selected is representative of the population, and results are weighted to produce estimates for the population as a whole.

Further information on the methodologies used for each survey are provided in the individual survey reports, available at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5zy9w

Quality

All results are subject to the effects of chance in sampling, so a range of uncertainty (confidence interval) is associated with results from the surveys. The confidence intervals take into account the effect of clustering, weighting and stratification in the survey designs. For questions asked to the whole UK sample in 2013 of around 2,000, the range of uncertainty around any result should be no more than ±3.3%, while for questions asked to around 1,000 respondents, the corresponding range of uncertainty should be no more than ± 4.6%.

Revisions

Results from the Public Opinion of Forestry (POF) Surveys were previously released in the separate POF reports for each country. The statistics are not normally revised.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf

Further information

Reports for UK and England (using a subset of the UK data set), for Scotland and for Wales were published on 25 July 2013, along with the full sets of data tables.

A report for Northern Ireland was published on 28 August 2014, along with the full set of data tables.

Reports and data tables (including results for previous surveys) are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5zy9w Release schedule

The next Public Opinion of Forestry surveys are expected to run in early 2015, with results available in summer 2015. 11.7 Sources: Recreation

Introduction

There are two main approaches to visitor monitoring:

- General population surveys of individuals at their home. This approach is employed for the Scottish Recreation Survey, Scotland's People and Nature Survey, the Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey, the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (England) and the Public Opinion of Forestry surveys. (Tables 6.1 to 6.6).
- Surveying and counting of visitors to a specific area or woodland. On-site surveying has been employed for the All Forest Monitoring and Quality of Experience surveys. In addition, the Northern Ireland Forest Service keep records of visitors who pay an admission charge to their sites. (Tables 6.7 to 6.10).

There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, related to factors such as representativeness, feasibility and cost; each approach provides different types of information.

In general, on-site studies provide information on visitor interaction with local or specific woodland areas and include all categories of visitors to a site, regardless of their country of residence and interests.

In contrast, general population studies are limited to residents of a certain country or area, are often carried out by market research companies at a national level, and include people who do not visit woodlands.

Data Sources and Methodology

Household surveys

The information shown in Table 6.1 has been obtained from the following general population household surveys.

- UK Day Visits Surveys (1994, 1996, 1998)
- GB Day Visits Survey (2002/3)
- Scottish Recreation Survey (2004 to 2012)
- England Leisure Visits Survey (2005)
- Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey (2008, 2011)
- Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (England 2009/10 onwards)
- Scotland's People and Nature Survey (2013)

The Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment has also been used to provide information on visitor characteristics in table 6.2. For further information on this survey, see www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/research/mene.aspx

Estimates of frequency of visits to woodlands in Scotland (Table 6.3) has been produced from Scotland's People and Nature Survey, a new survey that ran for the first time from March 2013 to February 2014 and is expected to run every 3 years. Scotland's People and Nature Survey replaces the Scottish Recreation Survey. Further information on both surveys are available at www.snh.gov.uk/land-and-sea/managing-recreation-and-access/increasing-participation/measuring-participation/.

The Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey also provides statistics on visitor characteristics (Table 6.4). Further information on this survey is available at http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/policy-and-guidance/health-and-recreation-policy/welsh-outdoor-recreation-survey/?lang=en

Public Opinion of Forestry Surveys have been run every 2 years by the Forestry Commission. The surveys cover public attitudes to forestry and forestry-related issues, including visits to woodland (Tables 6.5 to 6.6 and Figure 6.1). Further information is available on the previous page.

On-site surveys All Forests Surveys were run at a sample of Forestry Commission sites in Wales in 2004 (Table 6.7) and in Scotland from 2004 to 2007 and in 2012-13 (Table 6.8), to provide estimates of the numbers of visits to Forestry Commission woodland in Wales and in Scotland. Further information is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5wcmr4.

Quality of experience surveys have been run at selected Forestry Commission sites in England and Wales. Copies of the reports for each survey are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5wwjpt

Statistics on the day visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland where an admission charge is made is provided by the Forest Service. Further information on the Forest Service is available at www.dardni.gov.uk/forestry

Public Access to Woodland

Data on public access to woodland are derived from sources belonging to the Woodland Trust:

- The Woods for People project created an inventory of accessible woodland in 2004. Annual updates have been undertaken since and are included in Table 6.11.
- The Space for People project analyses information from the Woods for People inventory to produce estimates on the proportion of the population who live close to woods. Full reports have been published for 2004 and 2009. Summary results are in Table 6.12.

Further information is available at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Quality

It is notable from Table 6.1 that different surveys have provided some quite different estimates of the aggregate number of visits to woodlands. It is likely that differences in survey design and methodology have contributed to a considerable proportion of the differences in results between these surveys. As the scope of the surveys has evolved over time, the figures in Table 6.1 should not be interpreted as time trends but instead as separate results from each survey.

For England and GB, the 2002/3 GBDVS showed a lower number of visits to woodlands than previous surveys. For England, ELVS 2005 showed an even lower total. It is likely that the use of different market research companies and varying approaches and practices (in-home or telephone interview, changed questionnaire structure, etc) are responsible for a substantial proportion of the differences identified in the table. The questionnaire wording for MENE, starting in 2009/10, was intended to prompt the reporting of more of the short local trips, and this has resulted in a substantial increase in the total woodland visits reported.

Table 6.1 also highlights large differences between UK/GBDVS and later surveys in the estimates for Scotland and Wales, with results for both countries dramatically higher in recent years (and despite the Welsh figure being limited to trips with woodland as main destination). It is again likely that this variation is primarily connected with the change in survey scope, design and methodology (UK and GB Day Visit Surveys until 2002/3, Scottish Recreation Survey for 2004 to 2012, Welsh Outdoor Recreation Survey 2008 and 2011).

A further inconsistency may have occurred between the Scottish Recreation Survey and Scotland's People and Nature Survey, resulting in an apparently large increase in the number of woodland visits between 2012 and 2013. The 2013 estimate uses a new population estimate to gross up the survey results to an estimate of the total number of visits by the population as a whole, and this change has contributed to at least some of the apparent increase.

In common with all sample based surveys, the results from each survey are subject to the effects of chance, depending on the particular survey method used and the sample achieved, thus confidence limits apply to all results from these surveys. For example, the range of uncertainty around the estimated 62 million visits to woodland in Scotland (by Scottish residents) in 2008, should be within +/-14%, i.e. the true figure is likely to be between around 55 and 69 million. In the Scottish Recreation Survey, the reports produced by TNS calculate the total number of visits for each month based on the average number of visits in a 4-week recall period, scaled up to the number of days in the month, applied to the Scottish adult population. These estimates are then allocated to trip locations using a data set of individual visit-weighted data. In reports produced by TNS and earlier editions of Forestry Statistics, this allocation was done for each quarter using rounded percentages. From Forestry Statistics 2010 the calculation was changed to use annual unrounded weighted data; this should be more accurate and ensures that "main destination" results add across categories.

The Wales 2008 total is not shown explicitly in the initial reports for WORS 2008. It is calculated from the following figures in the tables: 36.028 million visits in 4 weeks x 13 x 14% to woodland (where the 14% is derived, unrounded, from 820/6045 in the weighted results).

For England, MENE 2009/10 to 2012/13, woodland visits were identified in the part of the questionnaire that collected details for one visit per respondent. Appropriate visit weights were applied to each record in this data set, and weighted tables were then produced selecting all visits that included woodland.

Technical reports, providing further information on MENE, ScRS and WORS, are available from relevant websites (see above).

**Comparison between household and on-site surveys in Scotland**

The aggregate visit number estimates for Forestry Commission Scotland woodland obtained from the on-site All Forests Scotland surveys (9.1 million in 2012-13, Table 6.8) is substantially lower than the estimates derived from the Scottish Recreation Survey (around 27 million for 2012, see Forestry Statistics 2013, Table 6.3).

Although it would be unreasonable to expect that two surveys which employ such differing methods would produce consistent estimates, the magnitude of the difference is notable.

The methodology used in the All Forests Surveys is believed to produce a more reliable estimate of the total number of visits annually to Forestry Commission Scotland woodland. It is likely that the estimates derived from the Scottish Recreation Survey may include visits to woodlands owned by others (with respondents reporting "Forestry Commission" as the owner, as this is an organisation that they recognise).

**Revisions**

Most of the statistics in the Recreation chapter have been previously released in other publications, usually by other organisations. The latest year figures for day visitors to Forest Service sites in Northern Ireland and for Woods for People are published for the first time in this release. Figures for earlier years have not been revised from those published in Forestry Statistics 2013.

When originally published by Woodland Trust, Woods for People data for publicly accessible woodland in 2004 included some non-woodland areas. They were revised in 2007, before their first inclusion in Forestry Statistics, to include woodland areas only.

Results for the Scottish Recreation Survey for years up to 2007 (Table 6.1) were amended in 2009 from previously published figures, to incorporate improved weighting procedures.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf/$FILE/FCrevisions.pdf

**Further information**

Further information on recreation statistics and access to individual survey reports is available from www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/ahen-5gcdvl.

**Release schedule** For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

The next Public Opinion of Forestry survey is expected to run in early 2015, with results available in summer 2015.

"Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" will be released on 24 September 2015. 11.8 Sources: Employment and businesses

Introduction

Data sources and methodology

Statistics on employment are obtained from:

- the Annual Business Survey (www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/abs/annual-business-survey/index.html), formerly the Annual Business Inquiry, (Office for National Statistics (www.ons.gov.uk)), an annual survey of UK businesses, and
- Industry surveys (Sawmill Survey, Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers) and industry associations (UK Forest Products Association (www.ukfpa.co.uk), Wood Panel Industries Federation (www.wpif.org.uk)) - for employment in primary wood processing.

Statistics for accidents to employees are obtained from Health & Safety Executive statistics for Great Britain, available at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics.

Numbers of businesses are estimated from:

- Industry surveys (Sawmill Survey, Survey of Round Fencing Manufacturers) and industry associations (UK Forest Products Association, Wood Panel Industries Federation) - for businesses believed to be using UK-grown roundwood, and
- UK Business: Activity, Size and Location (Office for National Statistics) - for VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses (www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/uk-business/index.html).

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)

The Annual Business Survey (Annual Business Inquiry prior to 2009), statistics on health and safety and statistics on VAT and/or PAYE registrations classify businesses by UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. Detailed information on the SIC is available at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/standard-industrial-classification/index.html. Businesses are classified to SIC codes according to their main activity. The SIC codes are revised periodically to take account of changes in the global economy. The following codes from SIC 2003 and SIC 2007 have been used in this edition of Forestry Statistics:

| Title | SIC 2003 | SIC 2007 | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Forestry | 02 (forestry, logging & related services) | 02 (forestry and logging) | | Wood products | 20 (manufacture of wood and wood products) | 16 (manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials) | | Sawmilling | 20.1 (sawmilling and planing of wood, impregnation of wood) | 16.1 (sawmilling and planing of wood) | | Panels | 20.2 (manufacture of veneer sheets, manufacture of plywood, laminboard, particleboard and other panels and boards) | 16.21 (manufacture of veneer sheets and wood-based panels); | | Secondary products | Other SIC 20 (manufacture of builders' carpentry and joinery, wooden containers, and other products of wood, straw and plaiting materials) | Other SIC 16 (manufacture of assembled parquet floors, other builders' carpentry and joinery, wooden containers, and other products of wood, straw and plaiting materials) | | Pulp, paper & paper products | 21 (manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard). | 17 (manufacture of paper and paper products) | | | 21.1 (manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard). | 17.1 (manufacture of pulp, paper and paperboard). | In addition figure 7.1, covering accidents to employees, also uses the following SIC 2003/2007 codes:

- Agriculture etc: 01/01 (agriculture, hunting) + 02/02 (forestry, logging & related services) + 05/03 (fishing, exc sea fishing);
- Manufacturing: 15-37/10-33 (all categories of manufacturing).

Quality

The forestry and wood processing businesses covered by the Annual Business Survey (Table 7.1), accidents to employees (Table 7.3) and VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses (Table 7.5) differ from those covered by the timber industry surveys and enquiries (Chapter 2, Tables 7.2 and 7.4), as follows:

- Businesses below VAT and PAYE thresholds are excluded from the SIC-based statistics;
- Businesses whose main activity is not forestry or wood processing will be allocated to other SIC codes and therefore excluded from the relevant tables on the Annual Business Survey, accidents and VAT and/or PAYE businesses;
- Businesses that do not use UK-grown roundwood are excluded from the Forestry Commission’s timber industry surveys and enquiries;
- Businesses involved in secondary wood processing are excluded from the Forestry Commission’s timber industry surveys and enquiries.

Reporting requirements for accidents have changed, with absences of at least 3 days to be reported until March 2012 and absences of at least 7 days to be reported from April 2012. As a result, accident data for 2012-13 are not fully consistent with figures for earlier years.

Revisions

Statistics on employment and businesses obtained from others are subject to revision whenever the source data are revised. Statistics from timber industry surveys and enquiries are subject to revision whenever the timber statistics are revised (see relevant pages within the Sources chapter for further information on revisions to industry surveys and enquiries).

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf.

Further information

For further information, please refer to our Employment statistics page at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7avhb2.

Release schedule

For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

"Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" will be released on 24 September 2015. 11.9 Sources: Finance & prices

Introduction

The statistics presented in the Finance and Prices chapter of this release cover:

- timber prices;
- financial returns from forestry investment;
- gross value added (GVA);
- government expenditure on forestry; and
- grant schemes.

Figures on financial returns from forestry are produced by another organisation; they are not designated as National Statistics, but are provided to give additional context.

Data Sources and Methodology

Timber Price Indices: Data sources

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and the Softwood Sawlog Price Index are both based on sales of softwood (conifers) by the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales; they do not include any private sector data. They only cover roundwood from woodland; they do not cover sawmill products or other end products.

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index (CSSPI) is based on administrative data for standing sales of conifers (softwood) by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales. Around half of Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales softwood is sold standing, with the purchaser responsible for harvesting. The standing sales cover a full range of sizes, as they include thinning and removal of trees for environmental reasons, as well as harvesting of mature trees. The data used to compile the index covers volumes sold and values by average tree size.

The Softwood Sawlog Price Index (SSPI) is based on administrative data for sales of softwood sawlogs by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales. The data used to compile the index covers volumes and values. Direct production by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales (where the softwood is sold after harvesting) also covers a range of sizes, but the price statistics reported are limited to sales of logs (over 14 cm diameter).

Both the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and the Softwood Sawlog Price Index include sales by long term contract, where the volume of roundwood covered by the contract is sold over a period of more than one year. To take account of changes in price over the term of the contract, price adjustments are made periodically, as part of the contract. The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and Softwood Sawlog Price Index include roundwood sales by long term contract but, at present, price adjustments are not included in the indices.

Further information on the administrative data is provided in the Statement of Administrative Sources on the FC Sales Recording Package, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5

Methodology for Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index (CSSPI) is an index of the average prices per cubic metre overbark standing achieved for standing sales of conifers by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales. It covers all conifer standing sales (open market and negotiated) by the Forestry Commission/ Natural Resources Wales over the twelve month period. All thinning and clearfell data is combined within the index. It includes all species, tree sizes, working practices and conditions. It does not include any private sector data.

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index (CSSPI) is calculated using a Fisher index with 5-yearly chain linking. By using a Fisher index to produce the index, distortions in the average price caused by variations in the average tree size over time are corrected. Applying chain linking at regular intervals (in this case, every 5 years) ensures that the index remains relevant over time. Other factors that may affect price (e.g. working conditions, timber quality or species) are not taken into account when constructing the index.

The methodology used to calculate the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index was reviewed in 2008, with the Fisher index with 5-yearly chain linking introduced from the November 2008 publication of "Timber Price Indices". Further information on the methodology used to calculate the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index is provided in the paper "Methodology for the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index", available from the Statistical Methodology and Reviews page of the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/ahen-589ddl.

The average prices and the index are expressed in nominal terms (i.e. the actual prices at the time of sale) and in real terms (i.e. the prices converted to 2011). The GDP (Gross Domestic Product at market prices) deflator, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is applied to the nominal figures to derive real average prices and the index in real terms. The GDP deflator data can be downloaded from the ONS Quarterly National Accounts dataset at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/datasets-and-tables/data-selector.html?dataset=qna, by selecting Table A1: National Accounts Aggregates and Series: YBGB.

**Methodology for Softwood Sawlog Price Index**

The Softwood Sawlog Price Index is calculated from data covering separate 6-month periods to September and March. This means that the changes reported are not covering the same periods as the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index.

The index measures the average price per cubic metre overbark of sawlog sales, with no adjustment for any change in size mix, as it covers a more limited range of sizes than the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index.

The index is expressed in nominal terms (i.e. based on the actual prices at the time of sale) and in real terms (i.e. based on the prices converted to 2011 prices, by removing the effects of general inflation). As for the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product at market prices) deflator is used to convert from nominal to real terms.

For consistency with the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index, the Softwood Sawlog Price Index is rebased every 5 years; in this release, the period to September 2011 = 100.

**Financial returns**

Estimates of financial returns from commercial Sitka spruce plantations are compiled and published by Investment Property Databank Limited (IPD), www.ipd.com/OurProducts/Indices/UnitedKingdom/UKForestry/tabid/1012/Default.aspx. The returns include changes in the value of forestry estates, as well as timber price changes.

**Gross Value Added**

Gross value added (GVA) measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the United Kingdom. A more detailed definition of GVA is available at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/economy/national-accounts/gva/index.html

Statistics on gross value added are obtained from the Annual Business Survey, formerly the Annual Business Inquiry, (Office for National Statistics), an annual survey of UK businesses. Further information on the Annual Business Survey is available at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/business-and-energy/annual-business-survey/index.html

The Annual Business Survey uses the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to classify businesses to industries according to their main activity. Detailed information on the SIC is available at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/standard-industrial- Government expenditure

Information about government expenditure on forestry is obtained from administrative records held by the Forestry Commission. Expenditure by Natural Resources Wales, Defra and other government departments/Devolved Administrations is excluded.

Further information is available in the Statement of Administrative Sources on FC financial accounts, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5. More detailed financial data for the Forestry Commission are published annually in the Annual Report & Accounts produced by National Offices.

Data on grant expenditure are obtained from administrative records for woodland grant schemes across GB. Further information is available in the Statement of Administrative Sources on FC grant schemes data, available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-832ey5.

Quality

The Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and the Softwood Sawlog Price Index are the only official statistics published for roundwood prices in the UK. So, although they are limited to sales by the Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Wales, they are sometimes used as indicators of price trends for other UK softwood. In recent years, softwood has accounted for more than 90% of all timber harvested in Great Britain, and the Forestry Commission/Natural Resources Wales has accounted for around 45% to 50% of all softwood sold.

For the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index, data cover a 12 month period (i.e. data for the year to March and data for the year to September). As these periods overlap, comparisons of values should be made with the same period a year earlier.

Unlike the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index, the Softwood Sawlog Price Index covers 6 month periods (i.e. data for the period October to March and data for the period April to September), so there is no overlapping.

Detailed information on the quality of the statistics presented in this publication is available in the "Quality Report: Timber Price Indices" at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/tpiqrpt.pdf

Revisions

Most of the statistics presented in the Finance & Prices chapter have been previously released. The latest year figures for Government expenditure on forestry are published in this format for the first time in this release.

Timber price indices are unchanged from the figures provided in "Timber Price Indices: data to March 2014"

Data on financial returns from forestry are not normally revised. Figures for earlier years have been revised from the figures included in "Forestry Statistics 2013" to reflect changes to the historic data released by IPD.

Data on Gross Value Added (GVA) are subject to revision whenever Annual Business Survey data are revised by the Office for National Statistics. Figures for 2011 have been revised from those shown in "Forestry Statistics 2013" to reflect revisions made to ABS results by ONS.

Data on Government expenditure are not normally revised, but may be subject to revision if revisions are made to the Forestry Commission's financial accounts. Figures for funding public forests in 2012-13 by FC Scotland (Table 8.4) have been revised, resulting in an overall increase in net expenditure of £0.1 million from the figure shown in Forestry Statistics 2013.

The Forestry Commission's revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors are dealt with and can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf Further information

Tables providing longer time series of the Coniferous Standing Sales Price Index and the Softwood Sawlog Price Index and the underlying data used to produce them, are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7m2dj

Release schedule

For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

Timber Price Indices are published every six months, in May for data to end March and in November for data to end September. The next editions will be released on the following dates: "Timber Price Indices: Data to September 2014" will be released on 6 November 2014; "Timber Price Indices: Data to March 2015" will be released on 14 May 2015.

"Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015" will be released on 24 September 2015. 11.10 Sources: International Forestry

Introduction

The statistics presented in the International Forestry chapter of this release cover:

- woodland area;
- carbon stocks;
- wood removals;
- production and apparent consumption of wood products; and
- trade in forest products.

Data sources and methodology

International data on forest area and carbon stocks are obtained from the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2010 (www.fao.org/forestry/fra/fra2010/en/), compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The information in Table 9.1 uses forest area from FRA 2010, excluding "other wooded land"; for the UK, this is very similar to the definition of "woodland" used in other tables.

International data on production, imports and exports are obtained from the FAO. Data are collected via the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire for FAO and other international organisations and published on the FAOSTAT database (http://faostat.fao.org/).

Data on apparent consumption is derived as production plus imports less exports.

Quality

The UK data on forest area and carbon stocks are as submitted by the Forestry Commission to FAO in May 2009. More recent estimates of UK woodland area are provided in the Chapter on Woodland Area and Planting. A copy of the full UK return for the Forest Resources Assessment is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7z8k3k

The UK data on production, imports and exports are as submitted by the Forestry Commission to Eurostat in September 2013. More recent UK estimates are provided in the Chapters on UK-grown Timber and Trade. Copies of all UK returns for the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqhzh

Revisions

International statistics compiled from FRA are not subject to revision after publication.

International statistics compiled from FAOSTAT may be subject to revision after publication if revisions are made to the data produced by individual countries.

Revisions to historical data have been made in the FAOSTAT database since the publication of "Forestry Statistics 2013" (Tables 9.4 to 9.6). The largest revision resulted in an increase in industrial roundwood removals in the Asia region across all years shown in Table 9.4.

The Forestry Commission’s revisions policy sets out how revisions and errors to these statistics are dealt with, and can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCrevisions.pdf

Further information

Statistics on international forestry are reported here at a regional level. Further data (including figures for individual countries) are also available from the original sources (see above).

Information on the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 is available on the FAO website at The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (previously the UNECE Timber Committee) also collects, on an annual basis, estimates for the current year and projections for the following year of wood production, imports and exports. Results are available on the UNECE website (www.unece.org/forests/fpm/timbercommittee.html). Copies of UK returns for the UNECE Timber Forecast Questionnaire are available at www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-7aqjql

Release schedule

For information on the release schedules of statistics produced by others, see relevant websites (above).

UK data for the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 will be released on 30 October 2014.

International data on wood production and trade in 2013 will be released on 24 September 2015 in "Forestry Statistics 2015" and "Forestry Facts & Figures 2015".